MICKEY'S GONE FOR A LABORER

Being out of work it was no fun, so I went down and bought The Sun
And down its columns I did run – There was a chance for laborers.
20,000 was the call so I went down to Tammany Hall,
I saw Kerrigan there, who out did bawl, "Put your name down for a Laborer!"

Having new work my heart was free so I resolved to have a spree,
I borrowed a quarter from Biddy Magee because I was a Laborer.
Shule, shule, shule agra! Little did Mickey know he was going afar
To fight Canucks in Canada, when he signed his name for a laborer.

Soon after this an order was seen to leave the city by the evening train.
I asked a fellow what did this mean. Says he, "Now you're off to your labor."
Shule, shule, shule agra! We all got aboard the railroad car.
I heard one say we were going where gold was par, the enterprising field for a Laborer.

After being out a little time we arrived at a place they called their line
Of operations and here we did dine for the first time since I was a Laborer
The General issued an ordered immediately. Says he, "We're going to make Ireland free
And shall strike a blow at Fort Erie so be prepared all you Laborers.

This was more than I could bear. The very idea of it did me scare.
They say in war times all is fair even if you enlist as a Laborer.
Just think of a place where the grub ain't seen nor whiskey placed in your canteen
Not even Jersey lightening or raw benzine to stick to the ribs of a Laborer

Says I to the General, "If you want earthworks made, I'm the broth of a boy for that's my trade.
I can dig, I can trench, I can build and grade but I never was born for a Laborer.
The only way to do things right is to get 50,000 all ready to fight
You can overrun Canada in just one night but with soldiers used to war not with Laborers.

This is a song from Col. John O'Neill's Fenian invasion of Canada in May, 1866. It comes from a period broadside. The idea was to establish a Fenian Republic in Canada and to barter that for Irish freedom. Dick Greenhaus and I are very interested in songs from this chapter of Irish-American-Canadian history. If you have any others, please let us know. Thanks.

All the best,
Dan Milner