Well we all got drunk in Dublin City,
Fall down me Billy
Well we all got drunk an’ its mores the pity
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

Oh we all got drunk on the Rogerson’s Quay
Fall down me Billy
When we awoke we were all at sea
And its fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

We are not sailors Captain dear
Fall down me Billy
We come from land and we won’t work here
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

We hoisted him up to the Tops’l yard
Fall down me Billy
When he hit the deck well he hit it hard
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

We wrapped him up in an old black tarp
Fall down me Billy
Threw him overboard for to feed the shark
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

When I gets back to the Rogerson’s Quay
Fall down me Billy
I’ll take my Girl out on a spree
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

I’ll say to her will you marry me
Fall down me Billy
Then no more will I go to sea
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

But I think I hears the Bo’sun say
Fall down me Billy
You’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
And it’s fall down Billy O’ Shea.

I don't want your millions, mister.
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to work mister
Give me back my job again.

I don't want your gold watch, mister,
I don't want your pleasure yacht.
All I want is some food for my children,
Now give to me my old job back.

I don't want your millions, mister.
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to work mister
Give me back my job again.

We worked to build this country, mister,
While you enjoyed a life of ease.
You've stolen all that we've built, mister,
Now our children starve and freeze.

I don't want your millions, mister.
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to work mister
Give me back my job again.

Call me dumb if you wish, mister,
Call me green or black or red.
There's one thing that I know, mister,
My hungry children will be fed.

I don't want your millions, mister.
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to work mister
Give me back my job again.

Now this two party system, mister,
No difference in them I can see.
But with the Farmer-Labour party,
We could set the people free.

I don't want your millions, mister.
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to work mister
Give me back my job again.

When the summer sun is shining
England’s finest hour is seen
When the ripening barley’s waving
Yellow in its frame of green
When the birdsong welcomes evening
When the sky is turning pale
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

English Ale oh English Ale
How we love our English Ale
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

When the autumn leaves are golden
When the evening air is chill
When the swallows leave us for
A place where there is summer still
Just remember they’re returning
Like the tides they never fail
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

English Ale oh English Ale
How we love our English Ale
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

When the winter brings the snowstorms
When the wind blows ill for all
When Jack Frost hangs at your window
When the nights too quickly fall
There’s a log fire warmly burning
In the Fens and in the Dales
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

English Ale oh English Ale
How we love our English Ale
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

When the spring begins to quicken
When new scents are on the air
When the sleepers stir and waken
When the land again is fair
Then the old men talk of childhood
Old men tell such wondrous tales
Fill their glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

English Ale oh English Ale
How we love our English Ale
Fill your glass and toast their glory
With a taste of English Ale

Now when I was a lad, I was ready and willing
To act like a man and to work for mi pay,
So I went underground, when the buzzer did sound
And I’ve worked all me best years away
I’ve seen men go down there who never returned,
I’ve seen men who lived but had wished they were dead
When the choice is to eat or go hungry,
You see that your children are fed.

And if I had a Son he would never go down there
To work all his days in a dark dingy hole,
They could close every pit from Bedwass to China
They’ve broken me body and soul
In search of the dirty black coal.

I remember the Man, who was trapped in the seam,
With two ton of coal on his head
As I lay in the dark, to the beat of me heart
I remember the words that I said,
If I ever get out of the this hellhole alive
I’ll turn me back on this blackness and pain,
But what else could I do, tell me where could I go,
So I strapped on them damn pit boots again.

And if I had a Son he would never go down there
To work all his days in a dark dingy hole,
They could close every pit from Bedwass to China
They’ve broken me body and soul
In search of the dirty black coal.

As I walk o’er the mountains, the memory’s there still
Though they’ve covered the scars on the land
With the grass that grows green o’er the desolate waste
Mother Nature she’s given a hand.
But they can’t put new breath in my body
Nor heal all the scars they can find
Or bring back mi friends who are dead and long gone
Nor lay them to rest in my mind.

And if I had a Son he would never go down there
To work all his days in a dark dingy hole,
They could close every pit from Bedwass to China
They’ve broken me body and soul
In search of the dirty black coal.

Now I take all the tablets the doctor prescribes
And I rest while I’m climbing the stairs,
I curse every day of me life torn away
And I wonder if anyone cares
As I look at the child in the faded old photo
And I feel just what’s left of the man
I remember the dream that was crushed in the seam,
Digging coal from the bowels of the land.

And if I had a Son he would never go down there
To work all his days in a dark dingy hole,
They could close every pit from Bedwass to China
They’ve broken me body and soul
In search of the dirty black coal.

They’ve broken me body and soul

Aloft we all must go-oh
John come down the backstay
In hail and frost and snow-oh
John come down the backstay,
John Dameray John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray

My Ma she wrote to me
John come down the backstay
My son come home from sea
John come down the backstay,
John Dameray John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray

Got no money and no clo’es
John come down the backstay
Am knocking out of doors
John come down the backstay,
John Dameray John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray

My home I soon will be in
John come down the backstay
And then we’ll have some gin
John come down the backstay,
John Dameray John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray

When I gits me feet ashore
John come down the backstay
To sea I won’t go mo-ore
John come down the backstay,
John Dameray John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray

From sea I will steer cle-ear
John come down the backstay
An’ stick to drinkin’ beer
John come down the backstay,
John Dameray John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray
John come down the backstay, John Dameray

I’m a Flying Fish Sailor just home from Hong Kong
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
Just give me some whiskey and I’ll sing yez a song
Gimme some time to blow the man down

Now as I was a rolling down Paradise Street
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
A handsome young policeman I chanced for to meet
Gimme some time to blow the man down

He says I see yez a Blackballer by the cut of your hair
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
And them long red topped sea boots I see that you wear
Gimme some time to blow the man down

I says Mister Oh Mister you does me great wrong
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
I’m a Flying Fish Sailor just home from Hong Kong
Gimme some time to blow the man down

So I spat in his face and I stove in his jaw
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
He says me young fella you’re breaking the law
Gimme some time to blow the man down

Well they gave me six months down in old Walton Town
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
For booting and kicking and blowing him down
Gimme some time to blow the man down

So come all you young sailors that follow the sea
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
Put your vents on the wind boys and listen to me
Gimme some time to blow the man down

Yes come all you young sailors and heed what I say
Timme Way Hay Blow the man down
Steer clear of fat Policeman you’ll find it’ll pay
Gimme some time to blow the man down

Come all my brave heroes give an ear to my song
And I’ll sing you the praises of brandy and rum
There’s a clear fountain o’er England shall flow
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

I’ll fathom the bowl, I’ll fathom the bowl,
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

From France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum,
Sweet oranges, bitter lemons from Portugal come;
But stout, ale and cider are England's control,
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

I’ll fathom the bowl, I’ll fathom the bowl,
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

My wife she do disturb me as I lay at my ease,
For she does as she likes lads aye and says as she please;
My wife she’s a devil, she's as black as the coal,
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

I’ll fathom the bowl, I’ll fathom the bowl,
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

My father he do lie in the depths of the sea,
No stone at his head lads, but what careth he;
‘long as the clear crystal fountain o’er England shall flow
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

I’ll fathom the bowl, I’ll fathom the bowl,
Bring me the punch ladle, I'll fathom the bowl.

When Venus, the goddess of beauty and love
Arose from the foam and swam on the sea
Minerva sprang out of the cranium of Jove
A coy, sullen dame, most authors agree
But Bacchus, the tell us, that prince of good fellows
Was Jupiter’s son, come attend to my tale
But all of such chatter mistakes quite the matter
He sprang from a barrel of Nottingham Ale

Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale
Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale

You bishops and curates, priests deacons and vicars
When once you have tasted, you’ll own it is true
That Nottingham Ale is the best of all liquors
And none understand what is good like do you
It dispels every vapour, saves pen, ink and paper
For when you’ve a mind in the pulpit to rail
You may open your throats, you can preach without notes
When inspired by a bumper of Nottingham ale

Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale
Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale

Ye poets who bray on the Helicon brook
The nectar of Gods and the juice of the vine
You say none can write well unless they invoke
The friendly assistance of one of the Nine
This liquor surpasses the streams of Parnassus
That nectar ambrosia on which Gods regale
Experience doth show it, nought makes a good poet
Like a quantum sufficient of Nottingham Ale

Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale
Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale

You Doctors who more executions have done
With powder and potion and bullace and pill
Than hangman with halter and soldier with gun
And miser with famine and lawyer with quill
To despatch us the quicker forbid us malt liquor
‘Til our bodies consume and our faces grow pale
Let him mind, he who pleases, what cures all disease is
A comforting glass of good Nottingham Ale

Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale
Nottingham Ale, boys, Nottingham Ale
No liquor on earth is like Nottingham ale

You won’t get me down underground in your mine
Away from the fields and the flowers so fine
Down in the dark where the sun never shines
No you won’t get me down in your mine

They dig for the coal for the most of their lives
Away from their children away from their wives
To make others rich in the heat and the dark
But who’s going to care when you’re too old to work

You won’t get me down underground in your mine
Away from the fields and the flowers so fine
Down in the dark where the sun never shines
No you won’t get me down in your mine

There’s many a miner has died underground
Died all alone when the roof tumbled down
Trapped in the dark ‘neath those great heavy beams
To choke out his life in the dust filled coal seams

You won’t get me down underground in your mine
Away from the fields and the flowers so fine
Down in the dark where the sun never shines
No you won’t get me down in your mine

I’ll work in your factories I’ll work on your farms
Dig roads till the muscles stand out on me arms
I’ll fight in your armies I’ll go out to sea
But I’ll not let you make a coal miner of me

You won’t get me down underground in your mine
Away from the fields and the flowers so fine
Down in the dark where the sun never shines
No you won’t get me down in your mine

I’m workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
Workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
I’ve been diggin’ for big John Henry and he’s so hard to please
And I’ve been all around this world

Now single girl, single girl, where’d you get that dress so fine
single girl, single girl, where’d you get that dress so fine
Got my dress from an engineer, got my shoes from a driver down the line
And I’ve been all around this world

I’m workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
Workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
I’ve been diggin’ for big John Henry and he’s so hard to please
And I’ve been all around this world

Now single girl, single girl, go get yourself to town
Single girl, single girl, go get yourself to town
‘Cos when you get married, you’re gonna work ‘til the Sun goes down
And I’ve been all around this world

I’m workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
Workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
I’ve been diggin’ for big John Henry and he’s so hard to please
And I’ve been all around this world

Now single girl, single girl, go out whenever you please
Single girl, single girl, go out whenever you please
‘Cos when you get married, you’ll have babies all over your knees
And I’ve been all around this world

I’m workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
Workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
I’ve been diggin’ for big John Henry and he’s so hard to please
And I’ve been all around this world

Now if you meet a rich girl, just pass her on down the line
If you meet a rich girl, just pass her on down the line
Oh, but if you meet a poor girl, won’t you ask her to be mine
And I’ve been all around this world

I’m workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
Workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
I’ve been diggin’ for big John Henry and he’s so hard to please
And I’ve been all around this world

Well the New Railroad is comin’ boys and the cars are on the track
The New Railroad is comin’ boys and the cars are on the track
Oh and if our women leave us, you know the money’ll soon bring ‘em back
And I’ve been all around this world

I’m workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
Workin’ on the New Railroad with the mud up to my knees
I’ve been diggin’ for big John Henry and he’s so hard to please
And I’ve been all around this world

And I’m goin’ on round again

Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!

Oh, Sally is the girl down in our alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl in shinbone alley
Bully down in shinbone al!

So Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!
Oh, Sally is the girl that I love dearly
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!

So Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!

So Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!
Oh, Sally is the girl that I love dearly
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!

I left my gal to go a sailin',
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
I left my Sal to go a whalin'.
Bully down in shinbone al!

So Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!
Oh, Sally is the girl that I love dearly
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!

Gonna visit my Sal just as often as I’m able
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
I hope I get there before I slip my cable
Bully down in shinbone al!

So Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!
Oh, Sally is the girl that I love dearly
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!

For seven long years I’ve courted Sally
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
All she did was dilly dally
Bully down in shinbone al!

So Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm a bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al!
Oh, Sally is the girl that I love dearly
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!

I was born in the shadow of a dockyard crane
On the banks of the River Tyne
In Walls-End near Swan Hunter’s yard
Where me father he served his time
I would watch with joy as the ships were launched
And the cheers and the beer flowed free
The yard’s closed now no chance of work
For the likes of you or me

Oh the working man has always been
The backbone of our land
The joy of work the men in suits
Will never understand

I was born in a terrace down in North Shields
With the smell of the river so strong
Me father he worked on the trawlers there
Where the hours were hard and long
For the smell of the fish and the cry of the gulls
Are the first things I recall
Well the fleets gone now and the town has died
And how much we miss them all

Oh the working man has always been
The backbone of our land
The joy of work the men in suits
Will never understand

I was born in a cottage in a colliery town
With the black dust in the air
Me father he worked at the rising sun
Where the men would sweat and swear
I would stand at the pit and I watched them all
As from the lift they’d run
The mine’s closed down and the men have gone
For the miner’s day is done

Oh the working man has always been
The backbone of our land
The joy of work the men in suits
Will never understand

Technology now is the thing they say
That will keep us from the dole
Eight hours a day at the V.D.U.
It will break your heart and soul
For the sweat and the toil of the working man
The hard times they would endure
Those days are gone, some say for the best
But me I’m not so sure

Oh the working man has always been
The backbone of our land
The joy of work the men in suits
Will never understand

When Ah was young and in me prime
Ee Aye Ah cud hew
Ah was hewin’aal the time
Noo me hewin’ days are throo, throo
Noo me hewin’ days are through

Ah’ve lain down flat and shovelled coal
Ee Aye ah cud hew
Me eyes did smart in the dust filled hole
Noo me hewin’ days are throo, throo
Noo me hewin’ days are through

Ah’ve worked with marras ands they were men
Ee Aye Ah cud hew
Aye they were men and sons of men
Noo me hewin’ days are throo, throo
Noo me hewin’ days are through

Ah knaa that work was made by men
Ee Aye Ah cud hew
But whea made dust Ah’ll nivver ken (whae = who)
Noo me hewin’ days are throo, throo
Noo me hewin’ days are through

It’s soon this pit nae mair Ah’ll see
Ee Aye Ah cud hew
But Ah’ll carry it roond inside of me
Noo me hewin’ days are throo, throo
Noo me hewin’ days are through

When the papers run by Tories carry terrifying stories
Of the horrid Union bosses who oppress me
They can rant and scream and rage, I just turn the other page
Their bedtime stories really don't impress me

Because it's my Union, I built the Union
If you want to know who runs it, I’m the guy
And no matter what they say, Oh the Union's here to stay
And I'll fight in the Union till I die

When the TV commentators say my leaders are dictators
Call them Moscow agents, Reds and such
I ignore their indignation and tune in some other station
their ravings don't impress me very much

Because it's my Union, I built the Union
If you want to know who runs it, I’m the guy
And no matter what they say, Oh the Union's here to stay
And I'll fight in the Union till I die

When a bought and paid for stool tries to make me out a fool
By saying that my Union should be split
I just tell him, Keep on walking, it's the boss's money talking
There ain't no good in peddling that shit

Because it's my Union, I built the Union
If you want to know who runs it, I’m the guy
And no matter what they say, Oh the Union's here to stay
And I'll fight in the Union till I die

You can call me agitator, you can even call me traitor
You can say that my head's way off the track
But I’ve sense enough to see what the Union's done for me
And I'm rolling up my sleeves and fighting back

Because it's my Union, I built the Union
If you want to know who runs it, I’m the guy
And no matter what they say, Oh the Union's here to stay
And I'll fight in the Union till I die

Oh Yes I fight in the union ‘till I die

The singer has left his song on the air
The hunter has hung up his horn
After the day the long long night
After the night the dawn

All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o’er
All the good times are past and gone
Little darling don’t you weep no more

Well I don’t want a seat at your table so bright
Don’t want a bed on your floor
You can’t hunt me down through the forests of love
And nail up my hide on your door

All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o’er
All the good times are past and gone
Little darling don’t you weep no more

Forget all the teeth that threaten to tear you
Forget all the pains in your head
The meek and the weak shall inherit the earth
The savage and honest are dead

All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o’er
All the good times are past and gone
Little darling don’t you weep no more

So it’s build me a boat where the willow once grew
Where the vole and the otter swam free
And row me away from this desolate land
And make for the open sea

All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o’er
All the good times are past and gone
Little darling don’t you weep no more

The singer has left his song on the air
The hunter has hung up his horn
After the day the long long night
After the night the dawn

All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o’er
All the good times are past and gone
Little darling don’t you weep no more

Miner’s life is like a sailor’s
‘Board a ship to cross the waves
Every day his life’s in danger
Still he ventures being brave
Watch the rocks they’re falling daily
Careless miners always fail
Keep your hands upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale

Union Miners stand together
Do not heed the owners tale
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale

You’ve been docked and docked again boys
You’ve been loading two for one
What have you to show for working
Since your mining has begun
Worn out boots and worn out miners
Lungs of stone and children pale
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale

Union Miners stand together
Do not heed the owners tale
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale

In conclusion bear in memory
Keep the password in your mind
God provides for every worker
When in Union they combine
Stand like men and linked together
Victory for you will prevail
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale

Union Miners stand together
Do not heed the owners tale
Keep your hand upon your wages
And your eye upon the scale

We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on
We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on

If the boss gets in the way we’re gonna roll right over him
we’re gonna roll right over him
we’re gonna roll right over him
If the boss gets in the way
we’re gonna roll right over him
We’re gonna roll the union on.

We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on
We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on

If the scabs get in the way we’re gonna roll right over them
we’re gonna roll right over them
we’re gonna roll right over them
If the scabs get in the way
we’re gonna roll right over them
We’re gonna roll the union on

We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on
We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on

If the goons get in the way we’re gonna roll right over them
we’re gonna roll right over them
we’re gonna roll right over them
If the goons get in the way
we’re gonna roll right over them
We’re gonna roll the union on

We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on
We’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll, we’re gonna roll the union on