Building Up And Tearing England Down chords by The Mary Wallopers

• Capo on 2nd
• Difficulty: Beginner 👶

Key: C

Verse 1:
C                             F            G
I have won a heroes name with McAlpine and Costain
C                    F        G        C
With Fitzpatrick
Murphy
Ashe and Wimpey's gang.



                                    F               G
I've been often on the road, on my way to draw the dole
C               F      G       C
When there's nothing left to do for Johnny Laing.
  Am                 F            Em
I used to think that God made the mixer pick and hod
Am               G              F
So that Paddy might know hell above the ground.
          C                             F               G
I've had gangers big and tough tell me tear it all out rough
C              F       G       C
When you're building up and tearing England down.

Verse 2:
C                             F            G
I remember Carrier Jack with his hod upon his back
C                    F        G        C
How he swore one day he'd set the world on fire.
                                    F               G
But his face they've never seen since his shovel it cut clean
C               F      G       C
Through the middle of a big high tension wire.
  Am                 F            Em
I saw auld Balls Mccaul, from the big flyover fall
Am               G              F
Into a concrete mixer spinning round
C                             F               G
Although it was not his intent, he got a fine head of cement
C              F       G       C
When he was building up and tearing England down.

Verse 3:
C                             F            G
I was on the hydro dam the day that Pat Mccann
     C                    F        G        C
Got the better of his stammer in a week.
                                    F               G
He fell from the shuttering jam and that poor auld stuttering man
C               F      G       C
He was never ever more inclined to speak.
  Am                 F            Em
No more like Robin Hood will he roam through Cricklewood
Am               G              F
Or dance around the pubs of Camden Town.
          C                             F               G
But let no man complain, no Paddy dies in vain
C              F       G       C
When he's building up and tearing England down.

Solo:
C     F  G
C     F  G  C
      F  G
C     F  G  C

Verse 4:
C                             F            G
In a tunnel underground a young Limerick man was found
C                    F        G        C
He was built into the new Victoria Line.
                                    F               G
When the pouring gang had past, sticking through the concrete cast
C               F      G       C
Was the face of little Charlie Joe Devine.
  Am                 F            Em
And the ganger man McGurk said big Paddy ate the work
Am               G              F
When the gas main burst and he flew off the ground
          C                             F               G
Oh they swear he said "Don't slack
I'll not be here until I'm back"
         C              F       G       C
Keep on building up and tearing England down.

Verse 5:
C                             F            G
So come all you navvies bold, who think that English gold
C                    F        G        C
Is just waiting to be taken from each sod.
                                    F               G
Or that the likes of you and me could ever get an OBE
C               F      G       C
Or a knighthood for good service to the hod.
  Am                 F            Em
They've the concrete master race, to keep you in your place
Am               G              F
and a ganger man to kick you to the ground.
          C                             F               G
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
C              F       G       C
When they're building up and tearing England down.
          C                             F               G
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
C              F       G       C
When they're building up and tearing England down.