This version has a number of differences from the lyrics I found at the Christy Moore site.

Building Up and Tearing England Down
[Paddy on the Road]
(Dominic Behan)

Oh, I've won a hero's name with McAlpine's and Costain
With Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ashe and Wimpey's gang
And I've been often on the road on my way to draw the dole,
When there's nothing left to do for Johnny Laing.
Now I used to think that God made the mixer, pick and 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 Limerickman was found
He was built into the new Victoria Line
When the bonus-gang had past, sticking through the concrete cast
Was the face of little Charlie Joe Devine.
And the ganger-man McGurk, 'Big Paddy' eats the work,
And the gas main burst and he flew off the ground
Oh they swear he said "Don't slack, I'll not be here until I'm back,
Keep on building up and tearing England down!"

I remember Carrier Jack with his hod upon his back
How he swore he'd one day set the world on fire
But his face we've never seen since his shovel it cut it clean
Through the middle of a big high tension wire
I saw auld 'Balls' McCall from the big flyover fall
Into a concrete mixer spinning round
Though it was not his intent he got a fine head of cement
As he was building up and tearing England down.

I was on the hydro dam Oh the day that Jack McCann
Got the better of his stammer in a week
He fell from the shuttering jamb and that poor old stuttering man
He was never ever more inclined to speak
And no more like Robin Hood will he roam through Cricklewood
Or dance around the pubs of Camden Town
But let no man complain, for no 'Pat' will die in shame
When he's building up and tearing England down.

So come all you navvies bold who do think that English gold
Is just waiting to be taken from each sod
For the likes of you and me could ever get an O.E.B. (sic)
Or a knighthood for good service to the hod.
They have a concrete master race for to keep you in your place
And a ganger-man to kick you to the ground
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
When they're building up and tearing England down.


from Songs of Dublin, edited by Frank Harte, Ossian Publications, 1993.

---

Click to play