A                   D                      A       E       A     
All down the glen came McAlpines men with their shovels slung behind them
A                          D
'Twas in the pub that they drank their sup and up in the spike you'll find them
     A                      D
They sweated blood and they washed down mud with pints and quarts of beer
    A                D                 A        E     A   
And now we're on the road again with McAlpine's Fusiliers

[Verse 2]
  A                         D                A             E       A     
I stripped to the skin with Darkie Flynn way down upon the Isle of Grain
                                  D
With the horsefaced Toole, 'cos I knew the rule, no money if you stopped for rain.
  A                  D
McAlpine's God was a well filled hod, your shoulders cut to bits and seared,
    A             D                           A        E     A   
And woe to he who went to look for tea with McAlpine's Fusiliers

[Verse 3]
    A                   D                 A     E        A     
I remember the day that Bear O'Shea fell into a concrete stairs.
A                           D
What Horseface said when he saw him dead well it wasn't what the rich called prayers.
      A                   D
I'm a navvy short was the one retort that reached unto my ears
         A                       D                    A        E     A   
When the going is rough well you must be tough with McAlpine's Fusiliers

[Instrumental Break]
A   D   A  E  A
A       D
A       D
A   D   A  E  A

[Verse 4]
     A                         D                  A        E         A     
I've worked 'til the sweat has had'n me bet, with Russian, Czech and Pole.
A                            D
On shuddering jams up at the hydro dams or underneath the Thames in a hole.
     A                     D
I've grafted hard and I've got me cards and many a ganger's fist across me ears.
       A                     D                      A        E     A   
If you pride your life don't join by Christ, with McAlpine's Fusiliers