In eighteen hundred and forty-one, my corduroy breeches I put on
My corduroy breeches I put on, to work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway, poor Paddy works on the railway

Chorus
I was wearing
Corduroy breeches
Digging ditches
Dodging hitches
Pulling switches
I was working on the railway,

In eighteen hundred and forty-two, from Hartlepool I moved to Crewe
And found myself a job to do, working on the railway
I was wearing ...

In eighteen hundred and forty-three I broke my shovel across my knee
And went to work for the company of the Leeds and Selby Railway
I was wearing ...

In eighteen hundred and forty-four I landed on the Liverpool shore
My belly was empty, my hands were sore through working on the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway, poor Paddy works on the railway
I was wearing ...

In eighteen hundred and forty-five, before Dr Beeching he was alive
Before Dr Beeching he was alive and closing down the railway
I was wearing ...

In eighteen hundred and forty-six I changed my trade from carrying bricks
I change my trade from carrying bricks to working on the railway
I was wearing ...

In eighteen hundred and forty-seven, poor Paddy was thinking of going to heaven
Poor Paddy was thinking of going to heaven, not working on the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway, poor Paddy works on the railway
I was wearing ...

[This an amalgamation by Ewan McColl of two versions of the song, one from Albert Gillmore of Birkenhead and one from Hellefield Loco Shed. Verses 1, 4 and 7 come from one version, the other verses from another. "The Railways in Song" EFDSS 1973.]

[Key F]