The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #79368 Message #4202827
Posted By: Lighter
22-May-24 - 03:22 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Paddy on the Railway
Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy on the Railway
Captain John H. Humphreys sailed on the ship Detroit in 1855. In 1910 he recollected some bits of chanteys for the Lewiston [Me.] Journal, including:
"In eighteen hundred and fifty-one, My corduroy breeches I put on, Oh, the railway, the railway, [sic Poor Paddy works on the railway.
In eighteen hundred and fifty-two, I shipped on board the Kalamazoo, To work upon the railway, the railway, Oh, poor Paddy works on the railway.
In eighteen hundred and fifty-three, I made my first voyage across the sea, To work upon the railway, oh, the railway, Poor Paddy works on the railway.
In eighteen hundred and fifty-four, I landed on Columbia's shore, To work upon the railway, the railway, Oh, poor Paddy works on the railway.
In eighteen hundred and fifty-five, I broke my legs and put out my eyes, A-working on the railway, the railway, Oh, poor Paddy works on the railway.