McAlpine's Fusiliers |
'Twas
in the year of 'thirty-nine When the sky was full of lead When Hitler was heading for Poland And Paddy, for Holyhead Come all you pincher laddies And you long-distance men Don't ever work for McAlpine For Wimpey, or John Laing You'll stand behind a mixer And your skin is turned to tan And they'll say, Good on you, Paddy With your boat-fare in your hand The craic was good in Cricklewood And they wouldn't leave the Crown With glasses flying and Biddy's crying 'Cause Paddy was going to town Oh mother dear, I'm over here And I'm never coming back What keeps me here is a rake o' beer The ladies and the craic I come from county Kerry The land of eggs and bacon And if you think I'll eat your fish 'n' chips Oh dear then you're mistaken. |
As
down the glen came McAlpine's men I stripped to the skin with the Darky Finn I remember the day that
the Bear O'Shea I've worked till the sweat it has had me beat |
The McAlpine building firm was founded by Robert 'Concrete Bob' McAlpine (1847 - 1934) in 1869 and carried on from father to sons. The family lived and breathed building. Contrary to what the song implies, they knew the names of all their workers and went on holiday with their managers. On Saturdays, they would all go and inspect the building sites, and even in later years, McAlpine would sit down in his study and phone the widows of every deceased McAlpine employee each Sunday. So, although the McAlpines were extremely rich, they were also down-to-earth, horny-handed, and not aristocratic at all. |
HOME |