Almost identical to the last, this version is from the Ewan MacColl Peggy Seeger Song Book, Oak Publications NY, 1963

Ewan & Peggy's notes (looks like a cut & paste from Jim's quote above):

THE DRIVER'S SONG

The army of Irish pick-and-shovel men who, during the 19th century, built Britain's railway and canal systems were know as 'navvies', or 'navigators'. They are still to be found in every branch of civil engineering, though for the most part the pick and shovel have given way to the bulldozer and the giant Euclid. In 1959, we made extensive recordings of workers engaged in building Britain's motorhighway, the M-1, and this song is a tribute to some of the men we met.

THE DRIVER'S SONG

Come all ye gallant drivers, wherever you may be
Whether you drive a Euclid or a fifty-four RB.
Keep your hands upon the levers, cut and fill a steady load
And take it nice and steady when you're plowing up the road.

We've dug a hundred airfields, in the snow and wind and rain
Built atomic power stations, more dams than I can name
We've dug through rock and swampland, moved mountains by the load.
Now we're going nice steady, boys, a-ploughing up the road.

When you're digging days are over, and you've loaded your last ton.
When your Cat is broken up for scrap and your ten RB won't run.
When you've had your last stamp on your card, and reached your last abode.
For a long time after there'll be people traveling on your road.


Phil