I'm a retired brickie. I worked in London in the eighties. There was still anti-Irish prejudice around but it was changing and the Pogues gave expression to that change. But you could still see many of the older longdistance men in the pubs, worn out and broke. They always loved their culture and music, and their country. This song and the music is world class and it will live on forever.
Most of the prejudice was directed at the Irish from the Irish, I worked in London sites in the 80's and every Irishman said he would sooner work for an English Foreman than an Irish one.
@@Gommerell I have to agree with you about working for an Irish subbie as opposed to an Englishman. But it was to be expected as it's the norm for an oppressed people to be manipulated like that. It was the case in slave societies, they used slaves to oversee other slaves and they could be worse than the ones who owned all of them. It's just one of those ironies of life. But besides all of that I'd say we both remember the real prejudice, how it was to be Irish in a society that fundamentally had no respect for your nationality, joked abut it and often made you feel unwanted. Like yourself I often found the worst people were those Irishmen who themselves were ashamed to be Irish and tried to show that they had no empathy for their fellow Irishmen as a way of improving themselves in some way. They were the worst type all right, but isn't it always that way in life? You know, "put a beggar on horseback". There were also times when you might be friendly with an English guy, and then he would do something to cut you off because he had to go along with the general prejudice or face ridicule himself. All of it though came from the same source: British racist prejudice towards Ireland, its colonial role and its justification through racism. Thankfully though, it's moved on from those days, for now anyway. I hope I don't seem too detailed on this, it's just one of those things I took seriously and thought about over the years. It was good to see your take on the subject, it was spot on. Take care.
My grandfather John Gallagher,was a 'navvy'. And even now I always admired that man's calm , authentic admiration of his family's ability 2 listen 2 his reasoning . Even now I miss 'Ma Granda Always in my Heart John G.❤
This was my dad’s favourite song, he worked as a shuttering carpenter on many a McAlpines site in the UK. He had to head over on the mail boat for long spells, can’t have been fun, but it was necessary to put bread on the table at home. Every day I thank God for such great parents.
For my Dad..... This song makes me both happy and sad... This is one of the Songs that I Selected to play for my Irish Dad's funeral. We would often listen to Irish music together... He loved The Dubliners, in particular Ronnie Drew. He was for ever quoting lines from the intro part of this song. He always found the line 'I come from County Kerry the land of eggs and bacon, if you think I'll eat your fish and chips then Jesus your mistaken' rather amusing... RIP dad, will love you forever X
I'm English (sorry!) but I love this group. I'm not going to apologise here for what my English ancestors did to the Irish - and neither do I expect the Irish to apologise for what has happened since. But - and its a very big 'BUT', I believe we should ALL accept that what happened 'back in the day' should be accepted, learned from and used to make the future for us and our children, less stressful and more rewarding. :-)
So sad, to think this is what happened to our people not so long ago, love Ronnie singing this song, no one could have brought it to our attention like he did.
"The extent of the Irish contribution to Britain's construction industry in the 20th century may be gauged from Sir William MacAlpine's 1998 assertion that the contribution of the Irish to the success of his industry had been 'immeasurable'. "
There's a quote from the TV series Sharpe this comment has reminded me of. Major Hogan, one of Wellington's Chief spies, turns to Patrick (a fellow Irishman) and says "Where would the English be if it weren't for the Irish?" Most of it wouldn't have been built, and that's coming from an Englishman.
My dad worked for mcalpine for 35 years always sung this song when he passes away last month he got cremated in his mcalpine polo means alot to me this song and a lot to him.
JM used ta sing it with me mates when we were all steamin drunk back in the late 70`s and like ya said never get tired of it and this was in England . Up Da Dubs
@@diarmuidastoir4920 The Irish have been the largest source of immigrants to Britain for over 200 years and as many as six million people in the UK are estimated to have at least one Irish grandparent. The people of these islands are very close.
When i was working in London once an Irish lad full of drink in our Digs said to me , " i bet ya dont know what "WIMPEY" stands for ??? so i replied "no i dont Tom" ???? he replied "it stands for "We Import More Paddys Every Year" WIMPEY ??? So i then asked him if he knew what it stood forward if ya read it backwards ??? He was more than surprised with my reply and he said "Be Jeezus i dont have a fecking clue " ??? so i told him it stands for "You English Pigs Make Irish Men Work" he cried laughing :)
My Dad emigrated from Donegal and worked in England with McAlpine, this song always reminds me of him and the stories he told about the different job sites.
Peter Carey The Irish Navy`s had short lives they did used to work hard and then straight into the Boozer .My Owl Fella worked on the Goldhawk Road in London with a Fella from one of the Islands off the coast of Kerry and he coudln`t speak a word of English he spoke Gaelic he was a young Man then and when me Owl fella saw him again a few years later he was a wreck from the Hard Graft and The Gargle . Me and me mates used ta sing this song in the late 70`s after a hard days graft on the Buildings in England ,we had the English fellas singing along with us and yes like most Paddy`s we drank to Da limit and had Da craic a few Scraps but loved Life . Where has Da Craic gone ? Up Crumlin Up Dublin
My father was in the army, went to the Congo. Came home, no job, off to London. Worked in several jobs around cricklewood and Hendon. He drank in the Crown. We were only talking about it the other day.
@Daniel Byrne I hear what your saying, I think your somewhat right, probably like yourself I've worked on the sites, but I think the initial comment held something extra that I'd have liked to get some insight on
My father worked for McAlpine and Wimpey in the 70s and 80s. He was an Englishman. Many of his workmates were fine Irishmen and he loved them all. that was the man he was. In retirement he visited some who had retired back home to Ireland.
I worked in London in the 80's and the sites were full of Irish then. Every Irishman I met would rather have an English Foreman than an Irish one, the English man was fair with them. The Irish ones wanted blood out of them, and when they were crippled and spent you would see them hobbling about with not the price of a pint. The Irish Subbies worked them hard and disregarded their working conditions, then they would pay them in the Pub on a Thursday giving them all a drinking habit. Then they would be staying in lodgings, paying rent to an Irish Landlord who would be getting his mortgage paid. I wonder how normal is it for a people to exploit their own like the Irish do.
@@Gommerell I was in London in the late 80s. I remember men lining the street by Camden Town tube early in the morning waiting to be collected for a day's work. I also visited the Swan opposite Stockwell tube which was a popular Irish pub with a late disco (as we called them then) upstairs. There was caked mud on the floor from work boots.
@@Rob1Rich I was one of them queuing up in Camden Town, it was about £25 a day in 1988? (more if you knew the Foreman) Murphy's vans used to draw up a lot and take you pulling cable or digging trenches by the road. Duffy and Carr was another big employer from Shepherds Bush, if you went there by Goldhawke Rd Tube, in the morning you could get a shift.. Funny enough their was a great café just by the yard- some Greek fella and he made the proper meat and two veg, when you finished in the early evening you were starving and we often went there for a proper meal. It would be about £4 for a mixed grill? and as any Irishman will tell you, you have to eat good food to work. off course most of the day laborer's had no cooking facilities in there digs or it was too much hassle so the cafes provided a good service.
@@Gommerell Thanks for your memories Stuart. I was there from 87-2000. Shared a flat for a while with an Irish labourer in Kennington. His brother lived in Archway and we'd go out on the drink a lot. I then moved to Islington/City borders - Golden Lane. There was a popular Irish pub there on the corner of Golden Lane and Old Street I'm sure called the Lighthouse. It's gone now. I remember Murphy's and their green vans. They seem to have become a national firm now. Don't recall Duffy and Carr but never ventured over to West London much. McNicholas was another one I think they had grey vans. Donnelly Bros rings a bell. Always parked around a gang of men digging up some road in London. I was just reminiscing with someone recently how the traditional London workman's café has disappeared now. Normally run by Italians, Greeks or Maltese. It's the same wherever you go in the UK now, they're difficult to find.
@@jnm92 And the sentiment, I guess. All my family are builders. Plus, Ronnie is one of the three best storytellers in song I’ve ever heard (Dylan and Cash are the other two).🙂 Also, is it the pentatonic scale? There’s a natural 7th note in there straight after the octave when it begins to fall, so I’ve always assumed it was the natural major scale.
@@nellypringle2875 yeah you’re right about the scale although I see the major 7th as more of an outlier as most of the melody centers around the pentatonic scale. Appreciate your reply fellow Dylan enjoyer! I replied to your comment caus I’m a 30 year old Dutch guy who has no link to Ireland or builders whatsoever but the heroics in this song resonate with me as well. I do come from a line of hardworking salt of the earth farmers so that might explain something.
@@jnm92 Yeah, the song makes use of 6 of the 7 notes in the major scale (I think the fourth note is the only one that never gets used) so it’s either Pentatonic +1 or major scale -1. 😄✌️
Although...every irish man embodies their spirit. They like the dear old Dubs were raised by ireland proud and green her shores and heartland, her men women.
I always thought it was "crack " as well, when asked "Whats the crack or was it a good crack?" I always thought they were referring to a cracking good time? It was only years later when I worked with an irish Gaelic speaker that he told me "Craic" is Irish for Pastime?
Los irlandeses deben saber el cariño que les tenemos los mexicanos por haber luchado de nuestra parte el Batallón de San Patricio en contra de los invasores de USA. Esta canción es conmovedora.
@@ftargr In a very beautiful place called San Jacinto, in Mexico City, the names of the Irish shot by the Yankee forces are written on a tombstone. Every year a tribute is made to the San Patricio Battalion in Mexico City, at the Museum of Interventions. Mexicans and Irish are also twinned because they are two peoples of good alcohol drinkers.
Saludos desde Irlanda. Sí, algunos de nosotros sí conocemos al heroico Batallón San Patricio y lo honramos. Lucharon por la libertad y el honor de México de Irlanda contra los injustos invasores gringos.
Gracias amigo mío, de Irlanda. Espero algún día visitar el magnífico México y ver la conmemoración a nuestro querido Batallón San Patrico que luchó por el honor de México e Irlanda.
Correct me if I'm wrong(Edited based on @Fionn Hand): 'Twas in the year of '39 when the sky was full of lead When Hitler was heading for Poland & Paddy for Hollyhead Come all you pincher laddies & you long distance men Don't ever work for McAlpine, for Wimpey or John Lang For you'll stand behind the mixer till your skin is turned to tan & they'll say "good on you, Paddy" with your boat fare in their hand O the craic was good in Cricklewood & they wouldn't leave the crown But glasses flying & biddies crying, sure Paddy was going to town O mother dear, I'm over here & I'm never coming back What keeps me here: the rake of beer, the ladies & the craic I come from County Kerry, the land of eggs & bacon If you think I'll eat your fish & chips, I tell you you're mistaken
Hollyhead is one word, it's a common ferry crossing between England and Ireland. It's not Picklewood, it's Cricklewood. Dear lord the lads wouldn't be saying trash, what an Americanism. Pretty sure he's saying 'but glasses flying'. He doesn't say rag of beer, he says rake. It means a good amount of.
Love the dubliners and what a voice ronnie drew had, there should be a memorial to the Irishmen who built the English railways and motorways with very little thanks,
A wonderful song, and the undisputed anthem of the building trade in my youth, but this version is a verse or two short... what happened to digging a hole under the Thames, or the Scottish excursion to the hydro dams?
I have searched for the intro because I couldn't understand anything: 'Twas in the year of 'thirty-nine When the sky was full of lead When Hitler was heading for Poland And Paddy, for Holyhead Come all you pincher laddies And you long-distance men Don't ever work for McAlpine For Wimpey, or John Laing You'll stand behind a mixer And your skin is turned to tan And they'll say, Good on you, Paddy With your boat-fare in your hand The craic was good in Cricklewood And they wouldn't leave the Crown With glasses flying and Biddy's crying 'Cause Paddy was going to town Oh mother dear, I'm over here And I'm never coming back What keeps me here is the reek o' beer The ladies and the craic I come from county Kerry The land of eggs and bacon And if you think I'll eat your fish 'n' chips Oh dear then you're mistaken
This is our history and culture,my father had to go to England every years,to get enough to feed and shoe us. T.G. Things are better now, he never said much, But, we all knew the rules in 1960.England
where is the verse that says “ Ive worked till the sweat it had me bet with Russian, Czech and Pole, on shuddering jams up in the hydro dams or underneath the Thames in a hole. I grafted hard and I got me cards and manys the ganger’s fist across me ears. If you pride your life dont join by Christ with McAlpine’s Fusiliers
I think this is the version I uploaded in 2009. It was not taped from the live broadcast on Irish TV it was recorded from the daytime showing in the UK on Channel 4. Someone decided to do an edit (maybe because of the exclamation 'Christ' in the edited part) I don't have the full version from the show. I don't think Channel 4 did the edit they were quite laid back in their content it was probably the programme makers who did it.
Can anyone tell what the tempo issues are in this? There’s a smirk going round the back row there and it’s because someone’s out. One player even stops playing. It’s rushing forward obviously, but why/who?
I'm a retired brickie. I worked in London in the eighties. There was still anti-Irish prejudice around but it was changing and the Pogues gave expression to that change. But you could still see many of the older longdistance men in the pubs, worn out and broke. They always loved their culture and music, and their country. This song and the music is world class and it will live on forever.
Thank you :)
Most of the prejudice was directed at the Irish from the Irish, I worked in London sites in the 80's and every Irishman said he would sooner work for an English Foreman than an Irish one.
@@Gommerell I have to agree with you about working for an Irish subbie as opposed to an Englishman. But it was to be expected as it's the norm for an oppressed people to be manipulated like that. It was the case in slave societies, they used slaves to oversee other slaves and they could be worse than the ones who owned all of them. It's just one of those ironies of life. But besides all of that I'd say we both remember the real prejudice, how it was to be Irish in a society that fundamentally had no respect for your nationality, joked abut it and often made you feel unwanted. Like yourself I often found the worst people were those Irishmen who themselves were ashamed to be Irish and tried to show that they had no empathy for their fellow Irishmen as a way of improving themselves in some way. They were the worst type all right, but isn't it always that way in life? You know, "put a beggar on horseback". There were also times when you might be friendly with an English guy, and then he would do something to cut you off because he had to go along with the general prejudice or face ridicule himself. All of it though came from the same source: British racist prejudice towards Ireland, its colonial role and its justification through racism. Thankfully though, it's moved on from those days, for now anyway. I hope I don't seem too detailed on this, it's just one of those things I took seriously and thought about over the years. It was good to see your take on the subject, it was spot on. Take care.
Being quarter irish in the 80s it was us together against thatcher .
My grandfather John Gallagher,was a 'navvy'. And even now I always admired that man's calm , authentic admiration of his family's ability 2 listen 2 his reasoning . Even now I miss 'Ma Granda
Always in my Heart John G.❤
This was my dad’s favourite song, he worked as a shuttering carpenter on many a McAlpines site in the UK. He had to head over on the mail boat for long spells, can’t have been fun, but it was necessary to put bread on the table at home. Every day I thank God for such great parents.
For my Dad.....
This song makes me both happy and sad... This is one of the Songs that I Selected to play for my Irish Dad's funeral. We would often listen to Irish music together... He loved The Dubliners, in particular Ronnie Drew. He was for ever quoting lines from the intro part of this song. He always found the line 'I come from County Kerry the land of eggs and bacon, if you think I'll eat your fish and chips then Jesus your mistaken' rather amusing...
RIP dad, will love you forever X
God bless his soul
My dad just the same, god bless.
Kieron Savage that’s lovely
I'm English (sorry!) but I love this group.
I'm not going to apologise here for what my English ancestors did to the Irish - and neither do I expect the Irish to apologise for what has happened since. But - and its a very big 'BUT', I believe we should ALL accept that what happened 'back in the day' should be accepted, learned from and used to make the future for us and our children, less stressful and more rewarding. :-)
So sad, to think this is what happened to our people not so long ago, love Ronnie singing
this song, no one could have
brought it to our attention
like he did.
Ronnie Drew was a master at his trade.
My dad left Boyle republic of Ireland to work in this country 66 years ago proud man
"The extent of the Irish contribution to Britain's construction industry in the 20th century may be gauged from Sir William MacAlpine's 1998 assertion that the contribution of the Irish to the success of his industry had been
'immeasurable'. "
True that; some trades like Groundwork, Shuttering, Steel-fixing were 90% Irish.
There's a quote from the TV series Sharpe this comment has reminded me of.
Major Hogan, one of Wellington's Chief spies, turns to Patrick (a fellow Irishman) and says "Where would the English be if it weren't for the Irish?"
Most of it wouldn't have been built, and that's coming from an Englishman.
My dad worked for mcalpine for 35 years always sung this song when he passes away last month he got cremated in his mcalpine polo means alot to me this song and a lot to him.
Great song..Met Ronnie over there in Camden Town Worked on buildings.Genuine person..Takes me back years..Great voice
Fantastic
My grandfather from Sligo sings this he worked for JCB instead lol 😂
Magic, thanks for the help, Paddy, luv from Wales. 🇨🇮 🏴
what a fkn tune this is. never tire of it. Ronnies voice was the best.
JM used ta sing it with me mates when we were all steamin drunk back in the late 70`s and like ya said never get tired of it and this was in England . Up Da Dubs
Got to agree, never tire of this
Just a distinctive voice...brings a year to my eye so it does!
Any Irish lad who ever worked in London on the sites ,could relate to this great song, nice one boys.cheers.
Galway races medly
Fucking right!☺
Takes an Irish man to work for a land that invades ya . Fair play to my country men selling out
@@diarmuidastoir4920 The Irish have been the largest source of immigrants to Britain for over 200 years and as many as six million people in the UK are estimated to have at least one Irish grandparent.
The people of these islands are very close.
@@diarmuidastoir4920 ... just trying to get a better way of life
When i was working in London once an Irish lad full of drink in our Digs said to me , " i bet ya dont know what "WIMPEY" stands for ??? so i replied "no i dont Tom" ???? he replied "it stands for "We Import More Paddys Every Year" WIMPEY ??? So i then asked him if he knew what it stood forward if ya read it backwards ??? He was more than surprised with my reply and he said "Be Jeezus i dont have a fecking clue " ??? so i told him it stands for "You English Pigs Make Irish Men Work" he cried laughing :)
My Dad emigrated from Donegal and worked in England with McAlpine, this song always reminds me of him and the stories he told about the different job sites.
Peter Carey The Irish Navy`s had short lives they did used to work hard and then straight into the Boozer .My Owl Fella worked on the Goldhawk Road in London with a Fella from one of the Islands off the coast of Kerry and he coudln`t speak a word of English he spoke Gaelic he was a young Man then and when me Owl fella
saw him again a few years later he was a wreck from the Hard Graft and The Gargle . Me and me mates used ta sing this song in the late 70`s after a hard days graft on the Buildings in England ,we had the English fellas singing along with us and yes like most Paddy`s we drank to Da limit and had Da craic a few Scraps but loved Life . Where has Da Craic gone ?
Up Crumlin Up Dublin
Peter Carey 🙏🏽they were very hard breed & this song only tells how hard they had it..
Are you Pat's son?
My father was in the army, went to the Congo. Came home, no job, off to London. Worked in several jobs around cricklewood and Hendon. He drank in the Crown. We were only talking about it the other day.
Likewise, this was the irish ganger’s
the rye smile of Ronnie ,hes heard all the stories of macs fusiliers and gangers
Still makes me smile everytime 0:48
One of their best tunes!
Bless them. Every song thay ever sang. RIP .The best
Holy crap. The part at the end where they all simultaneously sped up gradually and slowed down blew me away
Worked with them on the "other side"-as a student surveyor-many years ago.
They taught me their dignity.
Thanks-and much respect.
Βασιλική Τουρατζίδου could you expand and give a little more detail please
@Daniel Byrne I hear what your saying, I think your somewhat right, probably like yourself I've worked on the sites, but I think the initial comment held something extra that I'd have liked to get some insight on
I love it so much... Eamon, Barney and Ronnie...rest in peace... you are so great :-)
loved this for 30 year -Ahhh Ronnie Drew - Brilliant!
A pint of Plain is your man 🍺
WHEN IRISH EYES R SMILING THE WORLD SMILES !!!
that banjo playing is one of a kind
What a masterpiece
Them blue eyes
I met a man in Carlingford that worked for McAlpine, it brings the song to life!
Love this song, as a lad who lives in Cricklewood and has gone to the crown many times, this song brings home great memories.
Adam Colossal Ronnie Drew fan. He’s sorely missed :(
Was the Cricklewood in Birmingham..my Uncle used to go there.
If it's the same pub then I was there too..🇮🇪
There was a great crack (craic) in Cricklewood.
@@margarettecrawford3102 Cricklewoods in London
@@conorpatterson1109 And sadly it's a shithole now - same with Kilburn. Lived in one, worked in the other.
My father worked for McAlpine and Wimpey in the 70s and 80s. He was an Englishman. Many of his workmates were fine Irishmen and he loved them all. that was the man he was. In retirement he visited some who had retired back home to Ireland.
I worked in London in the 80's and the sites were full of Irish then.
Every Irishman I met would rather have an English Foreman than an Irish one, the English man was fair with them. The Irish ones wanted blood out of them, and when they were crippled and spent you would see them hobbling about with not the price of a pint.
The Irish Subbies worked them hard and disregarded their working conditions, then they would pay them in the Pub on a Thursday giving them all a drinking habit. Then they would be staying in lodgings, paying rent to an Irish Landlord who would be getting his mortgage paid.
I wonder how normal is it for a people to exploit their own like the Irish do.
@@Gommerell I was in London in the late 80s. I remember men lining the street by Camden Town tube early in the morning waiting to be collected for a day's work. I also visited the Swan opposite Stockwell tube which was a popular Irish pub with a late disco (as we called them then) upstairs. There was caked mud on the floor from work boots.
@@Rob1Rich I was one of them queuing up in Camden Town, it was about £25 a day in 1988? (more if you knew the Foreman) Murphy's vans used to draw up a lot and take you pulling cable or digging trenches by the road.
Duffy and Carr was another big employer from Shepherds Bush, if you went there by Goldhawke Rd Tube, in the morning you could get a shift..
Funny enough their was a great café just by the yard- some Greek fella and he made the proper meat and two veg, when you finished in the early evening you were starving and we often went there for a proper meal. It would be about £4 for a mixed grill? and as any Irishman will tell you, you have to eat good food to work.
off course most of the day laborer's had no cooking facilities in there digs or it was too much hassle so the cafes provided a good service.
@@Gommerell Thanks for your memories Stuart. I was there from 87-2000. Shared a flat for a while with an Irish labourer in Kennington. His brother lived in Archway and we'd go out on the drink a lot. I then moved to Islington/City borders - Golden Lane.
There was a popular Irish pub there on the corner of Golden Lane and Old Street I'm sure called the Lighthouse. It's gone now.
I remember Murphy's and their green vans. They seem to have become a national firm now. Don't recall Duffy and Carr but never ventured over to West London much. McNicholas was another one I think they had grey vans. Donnelly Bros rings a bell. Always parked around a gang of men digging up some road in London.
I was just reminiscing with someone recently how the traditional London workman's café has disappeared now. Normally run by Italians, Greeks or Maltese. It's the same wherever you go in the UK now, they're difficult to find.
@@Gommerell 50 cash was the standard pay plus another pick up spot was Fulham Broadway just down from the bridge.
For reasons I’ve never really been able to articulate, the first line of this song always sounds like the most heroic thing I’ve ever heard.
The rhythm and the pentatonic scale ❤️
@@jnm92 And the sentiment, I guess. All my family are builders.
Plus, Ronnie is one of the three best storytellers in song I’ve ever heard (Dylan and Cash are the other two).🙂
Also, is it the pentatonic scale? There’s a natural 7th note in there straight after the octave when it begins to fall, so I’ve always assumed it was the natural major scale.
@@nellypringle2875 yeah you’re right about the scale although I see the major 7th as more of an outlier as most of the melody centers around the pentatonic scale.
Appreciate your reply fellow Dylan enjoyer! I replied to your comment caus I’m a 30 year old Dutch guy who has no link to Ireland or builders whatsoever but the heroics in this song resonate with me as well. I do come from a line of hardworking salt of the earth farmers so that might explain something.
@@jnm92 Yeah, the song makes use of 6 of the 7 notes in the major scale (I think the fourth note is the only one that never gets used) so it’s either Pentatonic +1 or major scale -1. 😄✌️
Yes I agree.. very triumphant yet also melancholic... its beautiful
Me dad used to wake me up with this every Sunday morning!
Their like will never be seen again :(
The kings of connacht
Never ever ever !!
Although...every irish man embodies their spirit. They like the dear old Dubs were raised by ireland proud and green her shores and heartland, her men women.
Amen
them, and the Molly Maguires
Best Irish band ever.
God save the Dubliners!
This puts a mega smile on my face - easily Ronnie/John and Barney on the banjo!
The lads in full flow.
You cant be cooler than those dudes... RIP Mister Drew
they sweated blood and they washed down mud with pints and quarts of beer !
Better get that checked out.
I nice chilled Sancerre is the order of the day these days
Poetry
Bricklayer watching from nothern Ireland class
Real old school. I love it. My old man (from Mayo) used to say 'The crack is good in Cricklewood but it's a rough lie down in Camden Town'
Craic, I've been pulled on this, my mum was mayo, foxford.
I always thought it was "crack " as well, when asked "Whats the crack or was it a good crack?" I always thought they were referring to a cracking good time?
It was only years later when I worked with an irish Gaelic speaker that he told me "Craic" is Irish for Pastime?
@@Gommerellit just means fun
This song is for the goose,badger, fox, bear and the rock, the men who worked on the GPO , the best of the best. They would out work them all.
Los irlandeses deben saber el cariño que les tenemos los mexicanos por haber luchado de nuestra parte el Batallón de San Patricio en contra de los invasores de USA. Esta canción es conmovedora.
and what have you done for them
@@ftargr
In a very beautiful place called San Jacinto, in Mexico City, the names of the Irish shot by the Yankee forces are written on a tombstone.
Every year a tribute is made to the San Patricio Battalion in Mexico City, at the Museum of Interventions.
Mexicans and Irish are also twinned because they are two peoples of good alcohol drinkers.
@@PedroCucuchucho lest we forget
Saludos desde Irlanda. Sí, algunos de nosotros sí conocemos al heroico Batallón San Patricio y lo honramos. Lucharon por la libertad y el honor de México de Irlanda contra los injustos invasores gringos.
Gracias amigo mío, de Irlanda. Espero algún día visitar el magnífico México y ver la conmemoración a nuestro querido Batallón San Patrico que luchó por el honor de México e Irlanda.
When you are a dad and need to feed your children you do what it takes
Ronnie an barney your so missed rest well lads x
Love Irish culture and humour! at last the nations have come on board ,( married a beautiful Irish girl) so guys keep it up!
What nations?
Canaries Italy France Australia japan America Spain Germany England their music &dance resonates!(to name but a few).
God bless you Sir 🙏 ❤
Correct me if I'm wrong(Edited based on @Fionn Hand):
'Twas in the year of '39 when the sky was full of lead
When Hitler was heading for Poland & Paddy for Hollyhead
Come all you pincher laddies & you long distance men
Don't ever work for McAlpine, for Wimpey or John Lang
For you'll stand behind the mixer till your skin is turned to tan
& they'll say "good on you, Paddy" with your boat fare in their hand
O the craic was good in Cricklewood & they wouldn't leave the crown
But glasses flying & biddies crying, sure Paddy was going to town
O mother dear, I'm over here & I'm never coming back
What keeps me here: the rake of beer, the ladies & the craic
I come from County Kerry, the land of eggs & bacon
If you think I'll eat your fish & chips, I tell you you're mistaken
Hollyhead is one word, it's a common ferry crossing between England and Ireland.
It's not Picklewood, it's Cricklewood.
Dear lord the lads wouldn't be saying trash, what an Americanism. Pretty sure he's saying 'but glasses flying'.
He doesn't say rag of beer, he says rake. It means a good amount of.
@@FionnHand Thank you.
@@FionnHand ara u spotted 1 more than me, but I'm male so I'd never get it completely correct anyway 😀
The Irish working on building sites in London ..this song sums it up
me Grandad was at Scapa Flow keeping the ship's going
best version
Total legends
My grandad from Roscommon worked for macalpine and drank in the pubs with horse otoole.
Thank god for you guys
brilliant song
I like how they start it a bit fast at 58 seconds right after giggling, giving audience no time to laugh.
love this.
Love the dubliners and what a voice ronnie drew had, there should be a memorial to the Irishmen who built the English railways and motorways with very little thanks,
Magnificent.
2:31 the sound is too beautiful
You have a great ear for music my friend. The polyphony and timing is superb.
See also "Building up and tearing England down" by Dominic Behan
Your.musics.lives.on.for.ever
A wonderful song, and the undisputed anthem of the building trade in my youth, but this version is a verse or two short... what happened to digging a hole under the Thames, or the Scottish excursion to the hydro dams?
Haha 😂 I'm filling in the forms to work for the firm Sir Robert mcalpine listening to this songi can't wait
Every site had the Bear fantastic
I went to see Dubliners many years ago in Abbey Hotel Roscommon
Its stands out as BEST NIGHT EVER
Will never forget them
At least 50 years ago 😂❤
I have searched for the intro because I couldn't understand anything:
'Twas in the year of 'thirty-nine
When the sky was full of lead
When Hitler was heading for Poland
And Paddy, for Holyhead
Come all you pincher laddies
And you long-distance men
Don't ever work for McAlpine
For Wimpey, or John Laing
You'll stand behind a mixer
And your skin is turned to tan
And they'll say, Good on you, Paddy
With your boat-fare in your hand
The craic was good in Cricklewood
And they wouldn't leave the Crown
With glasses flying and Biddy's crying
'Cause Paddy was going to town
Oh mother dear, I'm over here
And I'm never coming back
What keeps me here is the reek o' beer
The ladies and the craic
I come from county Kerry
The land of eggs and bacon
And if you think I'll eat your fish 'n' chips
Oh dear then you're mistaken
I'll see aulu feckers ondi other siden!
Wishing you aul a merry Christmas and and a happy new year before the twenties!
One of the very few Irish folk singers that I can enjoy. The one and only.
fabulous
Dublin, the greatest accent in the English speaking world
Says nobody but a dub. 99% of the rest of the world hate the god awful accent
You must be bleedin jokin
Magic.
something special a one off these lads
You can't beat the Dubliners.
The real voice of the dubliners 👍👍👍
what a statement...ever hear of Luke Kelly? no?
Or paddy Reilly? Or come to think of it Jim McCann?
@@AlaskaWolverine Luke was the soul of the dubs and represented the true soul of all eire but ronnie had a great voice too.
🎩
😁
👕👍Great!
👖
A great song from the band. And one of there best.
Sure we find ourselves in the same old mess, singing drunken lullabies.
This is our history and culture,my father had to
go to England every years,to get enough to feed and
shoe us.
T.G. Things are better now, he never said much,
But, we all knew the
rules in 1960.England
2:31-3:01 is 🔥
where is the verse that says “ Ive worked till the sweat it had me bet with Russian, Czech and Pole,
on shuddering jams up in the hydro dams or underneath the Thames in a hole.
I grafted hard and I got me cards and manys the ganger’s fist across me ears.
If you pride your life dont join by Christ with McAlpine’s Fusiliers
Last time I ever saw or used a HOD was in 1957.
they still use it on sites in England
Fulham Broadway with Feenys fusiliers in 73.
And BRIMS
last time I saw a HOD was
my da worked for mcalpines. rough man my da
I have tried to figure out who they were. Can you please enlighten me?
@@ragnarknestang5240 steel fixers around london. hammersmith bridge
Ahh. The eighties on site for langs. The Irish are very different from the English. Never boring mind
We miss yea
Legends👍
More of the hard stuff.
serious comment section. thank you
ONLY a Behan could write those lyrics!
No money if u stop for rain ha ha al Jim
Great song - but Pecker Dunnes rendition is the best imo
always had a thing for Ron s
Rip. Is there any band that can replace them
I had many subs mid week back in the 70s
the best
Why's the last verse edited out?
I think this is the version I uploaded in 2009. It was not taped from the live broadcast on Irish TV it was recorded from the daytime showing in the UK on Channel 4. Someone decided to do an edit (maybe because of the exclamation 'Christ' in the edited part) I don't have the full version from the show. I don't think Channel 4 did the edit they were quite laid back in their content it was probably the programme makers who did it.
This snipers promis
Sean Connery's brother The Brumstiders Beastly, gots his name's froms beings beastlys and from the Brumstiders's districts of's Northern's Ireland's
The. Beatlea
Can anyone tell what the tempo issues are in this? There’s a smirk going round the back row there and it’s because someone’s out. One player even stops playing. It’s rushing forward obviously, but why/who?