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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,Dave MacKenzie Chord Req: Building Up and Tearing England Down (9) Lyr Add: BUILDING UP AND TEARING ENGLAND DOWN 30 Sep 08


I still haven't checked the chords, but the words I have are as follows:

BUILDING UP AND TEARING ENGLAND DOWN.

I've won a hero's name with McAlpine and Costain,
With Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ashton and Wimpey's gang.
I've been often on the road on me way to draw the dole
When there's nothing left to do for Johnny Laing;
And I used to think that God made the mixer, pick an' hod
So that Paddy might know hell above the ground;
I've had gangers big and tough tell me "Tear it all out rough!"
When you're building up and tearing England down.

In a tunnel underground a young Limerick man was found,
He was built into the new Victoria Line;
When the Bonus Gang had passed sticking from the concrete cast
Was the face of little Charlie Joe Devine;
And the Ganger Man McGurk said, Big Paddy hates the work
When the gas main blew and he blew off the ground
Oh they swore he said "Don't slack, I'll not be there until I'm back"
Keep on building up and tearing England down.

I was on the shuttering jamb on the day that Jack McCann
Got the better of his stammer in a week;
He fell from the shuttering jamb, and that poor auld stuttering man
He was never ever more inclined to speak;
And I saw old Bald McCall from the big flyover fall
Into a concrete mixer spinning around
Though it wasn't his intent he got a fine head of cement
When he was building up and tearing England down.

I remember Carrier Jack with his hod upon his back
How he swore one day he'd sat the world on fire;
But his face they've never seen since his shovel it cut clean
Through the middle of the big high tension wire
Well, no more like Robin Hood will he rove through Cricklewood
Or dance through all the pubs in Camden Town
Oh but let no man complain, sure if Pat can die in vain
When he's building up and tearing England down.

So come all you navvies bold, do not think that English gold
Is just waiting to be taken from each sod
For the likes of you and me will never get an OBE
Or a knighthood for good service to the hod
If the concrete master race want to keep you in your place
And the ganger man to kick you to the ground
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
When you're building up and tearing England down.

By Dominic Behan. As sung by the Dubliners on Polydor LP POLD 5079 "Prodigal Sons"


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