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Tweed And Lismore

A poem by Ned McEllisot

I am a navvy that's worked everywhere,
East, west, north and south I vow and declare,
Such terrible misfortune I ne'er had before,
As we had on that railway, the Tweed and Lismore.

Chorus
Laddie Fol the Diddle eril Ol, eril Ol aye.

Now me and Bill Lally came up from the South
To see if we could get some cuts to take out
Old Kerril he promised us cuttings galore
By the side of that railway, the Tweed and Lismore.

When we came to Bexhill 'twas on a fine day
No money, no marbles nor nothin' to pay.
It came on to rain, and we lay on the floor,
By the side of that Railway, the Tweed and Lismore.

It came on to rain and it rained with a will
The flood nearly covered the whole of Bexhill,
Such shiftin' of camp sure I ne'er saw before,
As we had on that Railway, theTweed and Lismore.

I first got a job with an axe in me hand
From lopping and chopping I scarcely could stand,
Me bones they did ache and me arms they were sore
>From working like blazes upon the Lismore.

I next got a job with me horses and drays
The chaff it was dear boys, as so was the maize.
Two and sixpence a day they would give and no more
And they run us to the devil upon the Lismore.

If one thing was in it our credit ran high,
If not then I'm sure that all luck might have died.
The people from Queensland come down  be the score,
Seeking work on that railway, the Tweed and Lismore. 

Our little 'Timie' was Brady by name,
Of stature he's small and I'm tellin'  you plain.
Of stature he's small, and of cheek he's galore
And he'd sack you for smoking upon the Lismore.

And now to conclude and to finish my song
Mr McNeilly is big, fat and strong.
While old Andy Morgan's a man to the core
And Kerril himself he's a rotten old Bore.

Notes

This song written by Ned McEllisot (1893) was sent to Ron Edwards by Richmond River Historical Society, with note, composed by Ned McEllisot, late of Bagotville. Printed in Ron Edwards Big Book of 1976 Australian Songs.

From the "Trains of Treasure" CD, sung by Jacko Kevans

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union songs..........a selection by mark gregory