Story Behind The Song
The railroad from Richmond, VA to Savannah, GA was built by Irish workers in the pre-Civil War era. Since the line ended in Savannah, that is where all of the Irishmen settled and to this day it is a home to Irish culture and one of the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the world
Song Description
Traditional Irish work song about the railway
| Song Length |
3:16 |
Genre |
World - Celtic, Folk - Traditional |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
In High Spirits |
Subject |
General |
| Language |
English |
Era |
1800 - 1899 |
Lyrics
Eighteen hundred and forty one I put me courderoy britches on I put me courderoy britches on to work upon the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty two I left the old world for the new I rue me luck when I went through with workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty three I met me sweet miss Biddy McGee an elegant wife she was to me while workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty four me hands and feet were getting sore, me hands and feet were getting sore from workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty five I found myself more dead than alive, I found meself more dead than alive from workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty six I changed me trade to carrying bricks, I changed me trade from carrying bricks from workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty seven sweet Biddy McGee she went to heaven, if she left me a child she left me seven to work upon the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty eight I learned to drink me whiskey straight, I drink me whiskey by the crate, I'm workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Eighteen hundred and forty nine I found meself in Carolina workin' towards the Georgia line, we're workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Fiddly youree youree yay
Workin' on the railway
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