I found this story in our local newspaper back in the 1960s with a UPI or AP heading..except it was roofing tiles and a Vietnamese or Cambodian name.I carried that clipping in my wallet till it fell to pieces..first time I heard it performed was either by Mike Cross or Bryan Bowers..
THE SICK NOTE It is generally assumed that I based this song on Gerard Hoffnung's wonderful address to THE OXFORD UNION in 1958. This is not correct. The recitation in a more simple form dates back to the English Music Hall's of the 1920's and was printed in the Readers Digest in 1937 in the form of a story. The fine Scottish singer and songwriter Dick Gaughan details some of the above on his Homepage together with comments by Sam Hinton. The song is unique in as much as it appears under such a galaxy of titles but is always the same song. Its worldwide popularity, with over 100 recordings to date, is indeed a wonder to me when I think back to it's humble beginnings in The Dyer's Arms, in Coventry. I am naturally delighted that so many wonderful artists have recorded and performed my song over the years and I am proud that the song has given so much pleasure to so many people. Long may it continue to do so. Below you will find the original text of THE SICK NOTE. Dear Sir I write this note to you to tell you of my plight For at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly grey And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today. Whilst working on the fourteenth floor,some bricks I had to clear To throw them down from such a height was not a good idea The foreman wasn't very pleased, the bloody awkward sod He said I had to cart them down the ladders in my hod. Now clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me. And so when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down. Well the barrel broke my shoulder, as to the ground it sped And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head I clung on tightly, numb with shock, from this almighty blow And the barrel spilled out half the bricks, fourteen floors below. Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more Still clinging tightly to the rope, my body racked with pain When half way down, I met the bloody barrel once again. The force of this collision, half way up the office block Caused multiple abrasions and a nasty state of shock Still clinging tightly to the rope I fell towards the ground And I landed on the broken bricks the barrel scattered round. I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst But the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst A shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope As I lay there bleeding on the ground, I let go the bloody rope. The barrel then being heavier then started down once more And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor It broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today. The song is sung to the tune of THE GARDEN WHERE THE PRATIES GROW. Alternative Titles: WHY PADDY'S NOT AT WORK TODAY THE BRICKLAYERS SONG DEAR BOSS PADDY AND THE BARRELL MURPHY AND THE BRICKS
@brummydubliner Thank you so much for taking the time to upload this. I will never see the Dubliners live, but I do enjoy the small glimpses here on CZcams very much.
The best version of the Burns song Ae Fond Kiss I have heard is also sung by Sean Cannon, an Irishman. i have it on vinyl somewhere but have nothing to play my old vinyls on now. The only performance on here is amateur recorded in 2009, and is not nearly so good. I saw him performing solo at a Folk Festival in Inverness, Scotland, before he joined the Dubliners. I've always thought he was excellent. Apparently he's still doing gigs and touring at 79 years old.
You can pick up a combo record player for pretty cheap nowadays. I got one and it’s totally worth it to be able to listen to all my records. Some will even let you digitize the records so they can be played on more modern media. Just google “combo record player”.
@Howler452 Ah, well search for the lyrics and read them as you play the song...then after a while try without the lyrics or melody and see how you do...
I sing this song nearly 30 years now. Not often, but I never forget the lyrics or the melody. I find it quite easy as it is a totally coherent story that won't work if there were verses missing or in a different order.
I enjoy hearing these songs, his accent is beautiful and it's amazing to hear him sing naturally, without music.
"Without music"? His singing is music!!!
you meant "without instrumental accompaniment".
Always liked this song Loved the way the Clancy Brothers sang it 💕
This is an hilarious song beautifully sung
Love this song. Gives me a good laugh each time I hear it. Lol.
exactly what I wanted to say!!
I found this story in our local newspaper back in the 1960s with a UPI or AP heading..except it was roofing tiles and a Vietnamese or Cambodian name.I carried that clipping in my wallet till it fell to pieces..first time I heard it performed was either by Mike Cross or Bryan Bowers..
+Charles Morris It has a long history in many different forms.
A true masterpiece ! Thank you so much !
Beautiful on many levels
what a voice!
Sean Cannon is one of the best by the Dubliners !!!!!!! And alone to!!!
Stilll very funny after all these years. Thanks for an amusing upload.
I love Sean Cannon
Sean cannon is that unique.
what a picture he paints with his words. roflmao! wonderful!
THE SICK NOTE
It is generally assumed that I based this song on Gerard Hoffnung's wonderful address to THE OXFORD UNION in 1958. This is not correct. The recitation in a more simple form dates back to the English Music Hall's of the 1920's and was printed in the Readers Digest in 1937 in the form of a story. The fine Scottish singer and songwriter Dick Gaughan details some of the above on his Homepage together with comments by Sam Hinton. The song is unique in as much as it appears under such a galaxy of titles but is always the same song. Its worldwide popularity, with over 100 recordings to date, is indeed a wonder to me when I think back to it's humble beginnings in The Dyer's Arms, in Coventry. I am naturally delighted that so many wonderful artists have recorded and performed my song over the years and I am proud that the song has given so much pleasure to so many people. Long may it continue to do so. Below you will find the original text of THE SICK NOTE.
Dear Sir I write this note to you to tell you of my plight
For at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly grey
And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today.
Whilst working on the fourteenth floor,some bricks I had to clear
To throw them down from such a height was not a good idea
The foreman wasn't very pleased, the bloody awkward sod
He said I had to cart them down the ladders in my hod.
Now clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below
But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me.
And so when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.
Well the barrel broke my shoulder, as to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head
I clung on tightly, numb with shock, from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half the bricks, fourteen floors below.
Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more
Still clinging tightly to the rope, my body racked with pain
When half way down, I met the bloody barrel once again.
The force of this collision, half way up the office block
Caused multiple abrasions and a nasty state of shock
Still clinging tightly to the rope I fell towards the ground
And I landed on the broken bricks the barrel scattered round.
I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst
But the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst
A shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope
As I lay there bleeding on the ground, I let go the bloody rope.
The barrel then being heavier then started down once more
And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor
It broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say
That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today.
The song is sung to the tune of THE GARDEN WHERE THE PRATIES GROW.
Alternative Titles:
WHY PADDY'S NOT AT WORK TODAY
THE BRICKLAYERS SONG
DEAR BOSS
PADDY AND THE BARRELL
MURPHY AND THE BRICKS
and yet it was found in a published joke book in 1918 !
@@after9pm2 And yet you didn't give the name of the joke book.
@brummydubliner Thank you so much for taking the time to upload this. I will never see the Dubliners live, but I do enjoy the small glimpses here on CZcams very much.
One of the best ;)
love it
Like your Alliaria petiolata picture too... Forest Girl
Thanks for the sharing
The best version of the Burns song Ae Fond Kiss I have heard is also sung by Sean Cannon, an Irishman. i have it on vinyl somewhere but have nothing to play my old vinyls on now. The only performance on here is amateur recorded in 2009, and is not nearly so good. I saw him performing solo at a Folk Festival in Inverness, Scotland, before he joined the Dubliners. I've always thought he was excellent. Apparently he's still doing gigs and touring at 79 years old.
You can pick up a combo record player for pretty cheap nowadays. I got one and it’s totally worth it to be able to listen to all my records. Some will even let you digitize the records so they can be played on more modern media. Just google “combo record player”.
@@evinmaguire7751
Thanks for the suggestion. I''ll check it out. I've quie few vinyl records that it would be good to digitalise for convenience.
whoa! he had one bad day
Mythbusters.
Walmart bosses be like"you're still coming in, right?"
Because Walmart workers are known for pushing themselves so hard.
Hoya boya
Can I get a translation for the first 30 seconds as he explains about the song? Holy shit that is a thick brogue!
Brent Johnston He explains the content of the song in German.(That there is a Guy named Paddy who had an accident...).
Different.
if you understand it 'then you are '
@Howler452 well it won't let me post a link -.-
just search "Dubliners - The sick note Lyrics" and look for stlyrics...
@Howler452 Ah, well search for the lyrics and read them as you play the song...then after a while try without the lyrics or melody and see how you do...
I sing this song nearly 30 years now. Not often, but I never forget the lyrics or the melody. I find it quite easy as it is a totally coherent story that won't work if there were verses missing or in a different order.
@Howler452 ah, is it the remembering the lyrics that are difficult or keeping on key with the melody?
Most of the man in the audience have beard/mustache
Good song but its called the bricklayers song. Sung by the corries
+Steve Bednell The original writer, Pat Cooksey, first titled it Paddy and the Barrell in 1969. It goes by many many different titles now.
No it’s not
@@UserName0043 it is also the Dubliners perfomed it
@Howler452
Really? i find it quite easy to sing...
LOL
LMAO