In eighteen hundred and fortyone
I put my corduroy breeches on.
I put my corduroy breeches on
To work upon the railway.
Chorus: Fill-i- me-oo-ree-i-ree-ay (three times)
To work upon the railway.
In eighteen hundred and forty?two
I left the Old World for the New.
Bad cess to the luck that brought me through
To work upon the railway.
In eighteen hundred and forty?three
'Twas then that I met sweet Molly McGee.
An elegant wife she's been to me
While working on the railway.
In eighteen hundred and forty?four
I traveled the land from shore to shore,
I traveled the land from shore to shore
To work upon the railway.
In eighteen hundred and fortyfive
I found myself more dead than alive.
I found myself more dead than alive
From working on the railway.
It's "Pat do this" and "Pat do that,"
Without a stocking or cravat,
Nothing but an old straw hat
While I worked on the railway.
In eighteen hundred and forty?seven
Sweet Biddy McGee she went to heaven;
If she left one kid she left eleven,
To work upon the railway.