The Pogues
Lyric guide

Poor Paddy

Read Poor Paddy lyrics by The Pogues on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

The Pogues visibility1 visits Video on page
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: The Pogues Canonical path: /pogues/poor-paddy Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

Poor Paddy

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

In eighteen hundred and forty-one

The corduroy breeches I put on

Me corduroy breeches I put on

To work upon the railway, the railway

I'm weary of the railway

Poor Paddy works on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-two

From Hartlepool I moved to Crewe

Found myself a job to do

A working on the railway

I was wearing corduroy breeches

Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the Railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-three

I broke the shovel across me knee

I went to work for the company

On the Leeds to Selby railway

I was wearing corduroy breeches

Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the Railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-four

I landed on the Liverpool shore

My belly was empty me hands were raw

With working on the railway, the railway

I'm sick to my guts of the railway

Poor Paddy works on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-five

When Daniel O'Connell he was alive

When Daniel O'Connell he was alive

And working on the railway

I was wearing corduroy breeches

Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the Railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-six

I changed my trade to carrying bricks

I changed my trade to carrying bricks

To work upon the railway

I was wearing corduroy breeches

Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the Railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-seven

Poor Paddy was thinking of going to Heaven

The old bugger was thinking of going to Heaven

To work upon the railway, the railway

I'm sick to my death of the railway

Poor Paddy works on the railway

I was wearing corduroy breeches

Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the Railway

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Poor Paddy"?

The Pogues performs "Poor Paddy", and this lyric page sits inside the The Pogues catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Poor Paddy"?

Yes. The related section below points to White City and 5 Green Queens And Jean with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by The Pogues?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through The Pogues's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Poor Paddy yet.