The Dubliners - McAlpines Fusiliers (lyrics)

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING.Love this. Cover by The Young Dubliners is also on my channel. This was written on the early 60s by Dominic Behan for The Dubliners. It's about Sir Robert McAlpine who was a major Irish employer during the mass work migration from Ireland to England during and after the second world war.

[gregmarrison]

For all the men who left their homes and poverty behind, and my Dad was one, I'll raise a toast to "the men who helped build Britain"

[sanchez]

I met many Irish navvies, hard working hard drinking hard playing salts of the earth

[RetroJay]

Found myself going down a rabbit hole of history and god I am glad I did! These guys could teach all the snowflakes how to toughen up.

[YOYOKE]

brings back a lot of memories of working in an irish pub in London during the 90s and that song among others blaring on the juke box. the area that i lived a new council estate was built and there were a lot of irish guys working on it. the lads got paid on a friday cashed their check in the pub, repaid the landlord any money borrowed earlier in the week and hit the booze and visited the bookies and the kebab house (which were conveniently near enough next door) in between drinks, the session lasted from fri night all through saturday till closing sunday night, (more than once i heard one of them on saying they had spent 2-300 in just one session) come monday or tuesday the whole borrow, repay on friday, drink the rest would begin again.

[robcousins]

Only Ronnie Drew can sing this. I've heard a lot of other versions by the High Kings and the like but they pale in comparison. Drew's gravelling hard-living voice is perfectly suited to this song. I don't think any modern singer can do it justice. RIP Ronnie!

[Scott]

"oh as down the glen came mcalpines men!" ... Goosebumps whenever that kicks in!

[rodhowell]

The last verse I think the correct lyrics are "unshuttering jambs" not "on shuddering jams". The skilled chippies would assemble the shuttering for the concrete to be poured and the labourers would dismantle the structures after the concrete hardened - really hard heavy work! The jambs are upright supports (same as we use in door jambs)

[arhassoc]

As an Alfred MacAlpine man, we were based 10miles from Liverpool so got the choice straight off the boats! I later worked with John Laing and Wimpey ( We Import More Paddies Every Year!) so know these guys! Never lived in Cricklewood, but knew it well, although in my latter years it wasn't Paddy we picked up on a Monday morning but Slavs and assorted Eastern Europeans! Ah for the good old hard days!

[johnshepherd]

this song brings back memories I served a 5yrs apprenticeship with mcalpines  on the shell building on the south bank in London from 1955.the irish lads I worked with were hard working beer swilling men but I remember their kindness and friendship I am English to end thank god for the irish scots and welsh or this country would have no music at all  I can only say sorry for the wrongdoings of my forefathers may the lord thro.his holy mother bless us all I don't evoke the of our lord lightly as I am a catholic

[Gilnar]

Possibly the only Irish song to mention my nation. Well, the only one I know. Greetings from Czechia!

[jsgould]

worked with the Irish boys on the Victoria line, what a bunch of hard working hard drinking boys they were, great nights in the pub with them.

[alangreen]

I worked on the tracks for BR and seeing the Irish contact workers work ten times as hard as BR men and not stop till the work was finished and you couldn’t fault them.

[catherinek]

I was at The Crown in Cricklewood on the opening night when it went upmarket. It didn't have any reference to its history - the Irish and probably more before. At the end of the night I stood on the table and sang this song and got barred for life. When I got home I woke my dad up and said you know you gave me a list of pubs you'd never want to hear about me drinking in - well I ignored it and I've just been barred from The Crown. He laughed out loud and told me he was proud of me.

[brendanofkerryblood]

Lived in the Isle of Grain as a child and adult, met many a Irishman down there, great crack in the local pub and working men's club, great days long gone.

[ledzebulon]

I used to work for Shannon groundworkers. My interest and love of Irish music and Irish history began then. By God we ha some craic! A few years later I was in Dublin at Raglan road, dying for a piss, asks to use a toilet on a building site. And the lyrics to this song were written on the bog wall😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[huwzebediahthomas]

Magic,
thanks Paddy,
for clearing our bombed towns,
and building,
them new airfields,
needed.
x
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[michealfigueroa]

TY 4 the footnote about Sir R McAlpine it helped me understand more about what the tune was telling .me

[garethbennett]

I worked for Mcalpines for 18 years. That song brings back fond memories.

[kaybrady]

Mcalpine hired mostly Irish workers.Class song by Dominic Behan.Love The Dubs.

[mrpotato]

very underrated song...ronnie sings it better than anyone