Set 2, Song 2 of 13
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Poor Paddy Works on the Railway

lead vocals: WP

G & C & sometimes D

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Refrain 1 : (Slow)
G                                                       C     G
In eighteen hundred and forty one, me corduroy breeches I put on
G                    C     G      C                          G
Me corduroy breeches I put on, to work upon the railway, the railway
    G            C   G         C           D7     G
I'm weary of the railway, poor Paddy works on the railway


G
In eighteen hundred and forty two, from Hartlepool I moved to Crewe
G                    C          D7             G
And I found meself a job to do, workin' on the railway
G             (G)      C
I was wearing corduroy britches
G       C        G       C         G       C
Digging ditches, pulling switches, dodging hitches
G     D7             G
I was workin' on the railway

#2:
G
In eighteen hundred and forty three I broke me shovel across me knee
G                                                  D7    G
And went to work with the company in the Leeds and Selby Railway
G             (G)      C
I was wearing corduroy britches
G       C        G       C         G       C
Digging ditches, pulling switches, dodging hitches
G     D7             G
I was workin' on the railway

Refrain 2 : (Slow)
G                                                  C         G
In eighteen hundred and forty four I landed on the Liverpool shore
G                      C          G        C                           G
Me belly was empty, me hands were raw with workin' on the railway, the railway
    G            C   G                     D7     G
I'm weary of the railway, poor Paddy works on the railway

#3:
G
In eighteen hundred and forty five, when Daniel O'Connell he was alive
G                                      D7             G
When Daniel O'Connell he was alive and workin' on the railway
G             (G)      C
I was wearing corduroy britches
G       C        G       C         G       C
Digging ditches, pulling switches, dodging hitches
G     D7             G
I was workin' on the railway

#4:
G
In eighteen hundred and forty six I changed me trade from carryin' bricks
G                                        D7             G
Changed me trade from carryin' bricks to workin' on the railway
G             (G)      C
I was wearing corduroy britches
G       C        G       C         G       C
Digging ditches, pulling switches, dodging hitches
G     D7             G
I was workin' on the railway

Refrain 3 : (Slow)
G                                                              C        G7
In eighteen hundred and forty seven poor Paddy was thinkin' of goin' ta heaven
G                                   C   G      C                          G
Poor Paddy was thinkin' of goin' ta heaven, to work upon the railway, the railway
G                C   G         C           D7     G
I'm weary of the railway, poor Paddy works on the railway

Outro to tempo:
G             (G)      C
I was wearing corduroy britches
G       C        G       C         G       C
Digging ditches, pulling switches, dodging hitches
G     D7             G
I was workin' on the railway

St. Patrick's 2023 (rehearsal list)

(all shows ↩︎)

Set 1

  1. The Boys Are Back WP
    A D , A D , A D E
    2.
  2. Drink the Night away WP
    Chorus: G C G, G D G, Verse: G D C
    3.
  3. Black Velvet Band WP
    G C A7 D7, G Em C D7 G
    4.
  4. The Night that Paddy Murphy Died WP
    A D A, A F#m D E....
    5.
  5. Father Mallory's Dance Don
    D ..... G D, C G G/F# Em D G D
    6.
  6. Nelson's Blood Don
    Dm C
    7.
  7. Fightin' Nolan WP
    mostly D G D A, "before we cross the sea": G A D
    8.
  8. Kiss Me I'm Irish WP
    G D C D, G Em C D
    9.
  9. Peggy Gordon Nick
    G D G D A
    10.
  10. Dirty Old Town WP
    G C G D Em
    11.
  11. The Irish Rover WP
    G C G G D...
    12.
  12. The Spanish Lady Don
    G Em C G C D
    13.
  13. Rattlin' Bog Adam
    D G D A
    14.
  14. Galway Girl Nick
    incorrect bridge...
    15.
  15. Wild Rover WP

Set 2

  1. Drunken Sailor WP
    Dm C Dm F Am C Dm
    2.
  2. Poor Paddy Works on the Railway WP
    G & C & sometimes D
    3.
  3. Big Strong Man Aaron
    C G
    4.
  4. Molly Malone WP
    G Em Am D
    5.
  5. Oh Maggie Nick
  6. Come My Friends and Drink with Me Don
    D G D A
    7.
  7. The Son Never Shines Don
  8. Danny Boy Don
    D Dmaj7 D7 G Gm...
    9.
  9. Caledonia Don
    A E F#m D
    10.
  10. Road to Ruin WP
    G C G D... Em D
    11.
  11. Jack Dolan WP
    C G C F, C F CGC, C G F C, C F CGC
    12.
  12. New York Girls WP
    G C G D
    13.
  13. Mary Mac Adam
    E D E, G D E
    14.

Set 3

  1. Nancy Whiskey WP
    G C G D
    2.
  2. The Star of the County Down Don
    starts Em G D
    3.
  3. Rosie WP
  4. Tell Me Ma WP
    G D G C G
    5.
  5. Come Out Ye Black and Tans WP
    Dm C Dm, F C Am Dm C Dm
    6.
  6. Wagon Wheel Don
    A E F#m D; (capo 2: G D Em C)
    7.
  7. Jock Stuart WP
    C G C F, C G C G
    8.
  8. Will Ye Go Lassie Go Nick
    D G D, G F#m, G A Bm, G Em
    9.
  9. The Water is Wide Don
  10. Mike Dempsey WP
    (needs chords)
    11.
  11. The Scotsman Adam
    D G A
    12.
  12. As Long As There is Whiskey in the World WP
    starts on D G D.
    13.
  13. Queen of Argyll WP
    Dm Am, GC GC GCDm
    14.
  14. The Parting Glass Don
    Bm G D A... Bm G D A G Bm
    15.
  15. Whiskey in the Jar WP
    D Bm G D A
    16.