[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Oh it s down the glen came McAlpineâs men with their shovels slung behind them.
Twas in the pub 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.
[Verse 2]
I stripped to the skin with Darkie Flynn down in the Isle of Grain.
With Horse Face O Toole, sure I knew the rule, no money if you stopped for rain.
McAlpine s God was a well-filled hod, your shoulders cut to bits and seared,
And woe to he whâwent look for tea with McAlpine s Fusiliers.
[Pre-interlude]
Oh way oh oooh
Oh way oh oooh
[Verse 3]
I remember that day when the Bear O Shea fell into a concrete stairs.
What the Horse Face said when he found him dead well it wasn t what the rich called prayers.
âI m a navvy shortâ was the one retort that reached unto my ears.
And when the goinâ gets rough well you must be tough with McAlpine s Fusiliers
[Pre-interlude]
Oh way oh oooh
Oh way oh oooh
Oh way oh oooh
Oh way oh oooh
[Interlude]
[Verse 4]
I ve worked til the sweat well it had me bet, with Russians, Czechs and Poles.
On shuddering jams in the hydro dams or underneath the Thames in a hole.
I grafted hard and I got me cards and many a ganger s fist across me ears.
If you value your life well donât join by Christ, with McAlpine s Fusiliers.
And if you value your life well donât join by Christ, with McAlpine s Fusiliers.