In eighteen hundred and forty-one 
The corduroy breeches I put on 
Me corduroy breeches I put on 
To work upon the railway, the railway 
I'm weary of the railway 
Poor paddy works on the railway 

In eighteen hundred and forty-two 
From hartlepool I moved to crewe 
Found myself a job to do 
working on the railway 

I was wearing corduroy breeches 
Digging ditches, pulling switches 
Dodging pitches, as I was 
Working on the railway 

In eighteen hundred and forty-three 
I broke the shovel across me knee 
I went to work for [bad word] 
On the leeds to selby railway 

I was wearing corduroy breeches 
Digging ditches, pulling switches 
Dodging pitches, as I was 
Working on the railway 

In eighteen hundred and forty-four 
I landed on the liverpool shore 
My belly was empty me hands were raw 
With working on the railway, the railway 
I'm sick to my guts of the railway 
Poor paddy works on the railway 

In eighteen hundred and forty-five 
When daniel o'connell he was alive 
When daniel o'connell he was alive 
And working on the railway 

I was wearing corduroy breeches 
Digging ditches, pulling switches 
Dodging pitches, as I was 
Working on the railway 

In eighteen hundred and forty-six 
I changed my trade to carrying bricks 
I changed my trade to carrying bricks 
To work upon the railway 

I was wearing corduroy breeches 
Digging ditches, pulling switches 
Dodging pitches, as I was 
Working on the railway 

In eighteen hundred and forty-seven 
Poor paddy was thinking of going to heaven 
The old bugger was thinking of going to heaven 
To work upon the railway, the railway 
I'm sick to my death of the railway 
Poor paddy works on the railway 

I was wearing corduroy breeches 
Digging ditches, pulling switches 
Dodging pitches, as I was 
Working on the railway