Come all ye railroad section men an' listen to my song, It is of Larry O'Sullivan who now is dead and gone. For twinty years a section boss, he niver hired a tar-- Oh, it's "j'int ahead and cinter back, An' Jerry, go ile that car!"
For twinty years a section boss, he niver hired a tar, But it's "j'int ahead an cinter back, An' Jerry, go ile that car-r-r!"
For twinty years a section boss, he worked upon the track, And be it to his cred-i-it he niver had a wrack. For he kept every j'int right up to the p'int wid the tap of the tampin-bar-r-r; And while the byes was a-swimmin' up the ties, It's "Jerry, wud yez ile that car-r-r!"
God rest ye, Larry O'Sullivan, to me ye were kind and good; Ye always made the section men go out and chop me wood; An' fetch me wather from the well an' chop me kindlin' fine; And any man that wouldn't lind a hand, 'twas Larry give him his Time.
And ivery Sunday morni-i-ing unto the gang he'd say: "Me byes, prepare—yez be aware the ould lady goes to church the day. Now, I want ivery man to pump the best he can, for the distance it is far-r-r; An' we have to get in ahead of number tin-- So, Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!"
'Twas in November in the winter time and the ground all covered wid snow, "Come put the hand-car-r-r on the track an' over the section go!" Wid his big soger coat buttoned up to his t'roat, all weathers he would dare-- An' it's "Paddy Mack, will yez walk the track, An' Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!"
"Give my respects to the roadmas-ther," poor Larry he did cry, "An lave me up that I may see the ould hand-car before I die. Come, j'int ahead an' cinter back, An' Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!"
Then lay the spike maul upon his chist, the gauge, and the ould claw-bar-r-r, And while the byes do be fillin' up his grave, "Oh, Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!"