THE FOREMAN O'ROURKE
As recorded by Matt McGinn on “The Return of the Two Heided Man” (Relrecords, 2001)

CHORUS: Hooch aye, hooch till a fa'.
Hooch aye, hooch till a dae.

Maybe I’m right; maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe I shouldnae go singing this song,
But the jury decided—you may as well—
That a fella like me should be roastin in hell. CHORUS

I had a gaffer; his name was O'Rourke.
He had a terrible passion for work.
In miles and in turns, he took all he could see,
Though he never was greedy; he gied it tae me. CHORUS

One day in ma work, I went roon for a smoke.
The door it burst open; there stood O'Rourke.
He startit tae swear and he gied me his curse.
He insulted ma mother, and that was far worse. CHORUS

He jumped for my throat and it gied me a fright.
I was quick on ma feet and I stepped tae ma right.
There was nothing could stop him, this terrible man,
Till he landed feet up, wi' his heid in the pan. CHORUS

I was tremblin wi fear as his heid gave a thud,
And I looked doon and saw that his claes were all mud.
Yet it wasnae his claes was the worst o' his plight,
For his heid was jammed in there; a sorrowful sight. CHORUS

In Barlinnie I wait for the man tae come roon
That will open the door and let me drap doon,
And I'll pray for O'Rourke as they gie me the tug,
For they hang me the morra, for pullin the plug. CHORUS