McAlpine’s Men

[Verse 1]
As down the glen rode McAlpine's men
With their shovels slung behind them
'Twas in the pub that they drank their sub
And up in the spike you'll find them
They sweated blood, they washed down mud
With pints and quarts of beer
And now we are on the road again
With McAlpine's fusiliers

[Verse 2]
I've stripped to the skin with the darkie Finn
Way down upon the Isle of Grain
With the Horseface Toole, I knew the rule
No money if you stop for rain
While McAlpine's god, was a wеll-filled hod
Your shoulders cut to bits and searеd
And woe to he went to look for tea
With McAlpine's fusiliers

[Verse 3]
I remember the day that the Bear O'Shea
He fell down into a concrete stair
Oh what the Horseface said when he saw him dead
Well it wasn't what the rich call prayers
"I'm a navvy short!", was the one retort
That reached unto my ears
When the going is rough, well you must be tough
With McAlpine's fusiliers

[Verse 4]
I've worked 'til sweat has had me beat
With Russian, Czech, and Pole
On shuttering jams on the hydro dams
Down below the Thames in a hole
I've grafted hard, I've got me cards
And many a ganger's fist across me ears
If you pride your life, don't go in strife
To McAlpine's fusiliers