Lyr Add: Aengus Finnan: Swing Boys Swing

Subject: Lyr Add: Aengus Finnan: Swing Boys Swing
From: GerryM
Date: 08 May 24 - 07:38 PM

Swing Boys Swing
Aengus Finnan

At the old town hall, where I was tending stable,
Swing, boys, swing; together rise and fall
I heard a foreman cry, "All hands strong and able
Won't you join our gang, come on, heed the call."

(chorus)
Swing boys swing, God speed your hammers
Swing boys swing, grunt and heave and wail
Swing boys swing, to hell with all your manners
Swing boys swing, spike the ties and rails

There were men of every walk,
Prisoners up to Masons
Swing, boys, swing; together rise and fall
Engineers with talk of lines to cross a nation
"An iron horse will run through field and forest tall."

First we laid the trunk
From Kingston up to Cobourg.
Swing, boys, swing; together rise and fall
Then the Lindsay Line, Port Hope to Mariposa
Timber, pork and ale bound for Montreal

And we sweat dawn to dusk
In every kind of weather
Swing, boys, swing; together rise and fall
Sun so blistering hot
Your skin was turned to leather
Wind and rain so hard, at times we had to crawl

There's some who shirk and groan
At life here in the shanty
Swing, boys, swing; together rise and fall
Gents who pine and moan
For the comforts of the fancy
Not too keen on gruel or gearing up to brawl

Winter's coming nigh, respite we will savor
Swing, boys, swing; together rise and fall
But come first breath of Spring
I'll return to sell my labor
Ringing through the woods
You'll hear us young men bawl

Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE94gL3KnyU

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Aengus Finnan: Swing Boys Swing
From: GUEST
Date: 08 May 24 - 08:10 PM

Aengus Finnan was born in Ireland, raised in Canada, and has traveled extensively, primarily as a musician but also on the boards of a variety of organizations.