Dominic Behan sings Building Up & Tearing England Down

Well, here we have a classic little London-Irish folk song from Dominic Behan, the brother of the famous Brendan Behan. This song is called ‘Building Up and Tearing England Down’. Hope you enjoy!

Dominic Behan – Building Up & Tearing England Down

Building Up & tearing England Down Lyrics;

I have won a Heroes Name with McAlpine and Costane

With Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ash and Wimpey’s Gang

I’ve been often on the road, on my way to draw the Dole

When theirs nothing left to do for Johnny Laing

Well, I used to think that God, made the mixer, pick and Hod,

So that Paddy might know Hell above the Ground

I’ve had Gangers big and Tough, tell me ‘Tear it all out rough!’

When youre Building Up and Tearing England Down.

In a Tunnel Underground, a Young limerick Man was Found

He was built into the New Victoria line.

When the Bonus gang had passed, Sticking through the concrete Cast

Came the face of little Charlie Joe Devine

And the ganger man McGurk, said ‘Hey Paddy, It’s the Work’

When a Gas main burst and he blew off the ground

Well they swear he said dont slack, ‘I won’t be here until I’m back’

When you’re building up and tearing England Down

I was on the Hydro Dam, on the day that Jack McCann

Felt the better for his stammer in a week

He fell from the shuttering Jam, and the poor old stuttering man

He was never ever more inclined to speak

And I saw the bold McColl, from the big flyover fall,

Into a concrete mixer spinning round

No, it wasn’t his intent, he got a fine head of cement

When he was building up and tearing England down.

I remember Carrier Jack, with his Hod upon his back

Well, he swore One day he’d set the world on fire

But his face they’ve never seen, since his shovel it cut clean

Through the middle of the big high tension wire.

So, no more like Robin Hood, will he roam through Cricklewood,

Or dance around the pubs in Camden Town

Ah but let no man complain, sure no Paddy dies in vane

when he’s building up and tearing England down.

So come all you Navvies bold, who may think that English gold

Is just waiting to be taken from each sod

Or the likes of You and Me, would ever get an OBE

Or a Knighthood for good service to The Hod

They’ve a concrete Master race, to keep you in your place,

and a ganger man to beat you to the ground

If you ever try to take, part of what the bosses make,

when youre building Up and tearing England down.

Dominic Behan

Dominic Behan was a singer and songwriter from Dublin who was a keen advocate of the Irish republican movement. He was the Younger Brother of the Legendary Irish singer, Songwriter and Poet, Brendan Behan. He was a contributing artist in the 1960’s Folk revival and released a few good albums including a historical commentary album ‘Rebellion’ commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin.

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The Massacre of Glen Coe by The Corries

Here’s a little song about Benefit sanctions in the Seventeenth century. Performed by The Corries, The Massacre of Glen Coe tells the story of the 1689 massacre of the McDonald Clan at Glencoe at the hand of John Campbell, the Duke of Argyll.

The Massacre of Glen Coe by The Corries

This song is about the massacre of the Scottish Clan McDonald, the One time Lords of the Isles.

Lyrics;

Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
That covers the grave o’ Donald
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe
And murdered the house o’ MacDonald
(chorus)

They came through the blizzard, we offered them heat
A roof o’er their heads, dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them, they ate o’ our meat
And slept in the house O’ MacDonald

(chorus)

They came from Fort William with murder mind
The Campbell had orders, King William had signed
Pit all tae the sword, these words underlined
And leave none alive called MacDonald

(chorus)

They came in the night when the men were asleep
That band of Argyles, through snow soft and deep.
Like murdering foxes, among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house o’ MacDonald

(chorus)

Some died in their beds at the hands of the foe
Or fled in the night and were lost in the snow.
Some lived to accuse him, what struck the first blow
But gone was the house of MacDonald

Who were The Corries?

The Corries were a folk duo made up of singer-songwriters Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne. Originally formed as The Corrie Folk Trio with Bill Graham, the group eventually whittled down to just the pair of them by 1966. The duo released many successful studio albums and played many live shows in the 24 years they were together. The groups demise sadly came in 1990 with the passing of Roy Williamson who lost his battle with Cancer.

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Jez Lowe sings Bobby Shaftoe

Here’s a little English Folk song called ‘Bobby Shaftoe’ sung by English Folk Singer Jez Lowe. Often sung as a nursey Rhyme, this old English Folk song has been sung by many far and wide. This version is taken from the singer-songwriters album ‘The Dillen Doll’. Hope you enjoy!

Bobby Shaftoe by Jez Lowe

Bobby Shaftoe Lyrics

By there by yon damsel hall
Through the buildings great and Tall
And greatly loved by Each and all
His name is Bobby Shaftoe

Bobby Shaftoe’s Bright and Fair
Combing down his Yellow hair
He’ll be mine forever mair
Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe

Bobby Shaftoe’s lookin out
For his ribbons hanging Out
All the Lassies scream and shout
Here for Bobby Shaftoe

Bobby Shaftoe’s gone to sea
Silver Buckles on His knee
He’ll come back and marry me
Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe

Beautiful Miss Bella sighs
Black Hair and bright Blue Eyes
People say she surely dies
For the love of Bobby Shaftoe

Bobby Shaftoes Bright and fair
Combing down his yellow hair
He’ll be mine forever mair
Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe

Bobby shaftoe’s got a
Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe, the fairest of them all
On his arm and on his knee, he’ll come home and marry me
Bobby Shaftoe loves me

Bobby Shaftoes gone to Sea
Silver Buckles on his knee
He’ll come back and marry me
Bonnie Bobby Shaftoe

About Jez Lowe

Jez Lowe is an English folk singer. He released the album ‘The Dillen Doll’.

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One Way or Another by Blondie

Heres another classic from Blondie, One Way or Another


One Way Or Another by Blondie



One Way or Another Lyrics


One way or another, I’m gonna find ya
Im gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya
One way, or another Im be you
Im gonna see ya, I’ll see ya, I’ll see ya. I’ll see ya
One day maybe next week
Im gonna meet ya, meet ya
One day
Im gonna meet ya

I will drive past
And when the lights are
I’ll wait in your

One way or Another im gonna find ya
I’ll find ya
One way or another
Im gonna be ya
One way or another
Im gonna
One day maybe next week, I’m gonna meet ya
I’ll meet ya, meet ya, i’ll meet ya, i’ll meet ya

And when the lights are all out
Ill follow your place down town
Your hanging out

One way or another, I’m gonna lose ya
Im gonna give you the slip
A slip of the wrist, or another, i’m gonna lose ya
I’ll lose ya, i’ll lose ya, lose ya, lose ya,
One way or another, I’m gonna lose ya
Im gonna give you the slip




About Blondie


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