In eighteen hundred and forty one
Me corduroy breeches I put on
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway
Poor Paddy works on the railway
In eighteen hundred and forty two
From Hartlepool I moved to Crewe
And found meself a job to do
Workin' on the railway
I was wearing corduroy britches
Digging ditches, pullin' switches, dodging hitches
I was workin' on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty three
I broke me shovel across me knee
And went to work with the company
On the Leeds and Selby Railway
I was wearing corduroy britches
Digging ditches, pullin' switches, dodging hitches
I was working on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty four
I landed on the Liverpool shore
Me belly was empty, me hands were raw
With working on the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway
Poor Paddy works on the railway
In eighteen hundred and forty five
When Daniel O'Connell, he was alive
When Daniel O'Connell, he was alive
And workin' on the railway
I was wearing corduroy britches
Digging ditches, pullin' switches, dodging hitches
I was workin' on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty six
I changed me trade from carryin' bricks
Changed me trade from carryin' bricks
To working on the railway
I was wearing corduroy britches
Digging ditches, pullin' switches, dodging hitches
I was workin' on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty seven
Poor Paddy was thinkin' of goin' to heaven
Poor Paddy was thinkin' of goin' to heaven
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway
Poor Paddy works on the railway
I was wearing corduroy britches
Digging ditches, pullin' switches, dodging hitches
I was workin' on the railway