McAlpine's Fusiliers (OurVinyl Sessions)

Down the glen came McAlpine's men With their shovels slung behind them It was in the pub that they drank the sub And up in the spike you'll find them They sweated blood and they washed down mud With pints and quarts of beer And now we're on the road again With McAlpine's fusiliers I stripped to the skin with my friend Flynn Way down in the Isle of Grain Horseface Toole said, "You knew the rule No money if you stop for rain" McAlpine's God was a well filled hod With his shoulders cut to bits and seared And woe to he who drinks a tea With McAlpine's fusiliers I remember the day that the Bear O'Shea Fell into a concrete stairs What 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 Screaming unto me ears When the going gets rough, well you must be tough With McAlpine's fusiliers I've worked 'til the sweat has had me bet With Russians, Czechs and Poles On shuddering jams up in the hydro dams Or underneath the Thames in a hole Yes, I've grafted hard and I've held me cards And many a ganger's fist across me ears Oh if you pride your life, don't you join by Christ With McAlpine's fusiliers