Chords for Building Up And Tearing England Down

Who is jumping on the wagons?
Who is doing the work in this country?
They're all Irishmen.
Every one of them.
They're Irish contractors
and they're Irish labour. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [F] _ _ [G] _
_ _ [C] _ _ _ _ _ [C] _
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_ [F] _ _ [G] _ _ _ [C] _ _
[A] _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ _ _
[G] _ _ [A] _ _ _ [E] _ [Em] _ _
_ _ _ [Am] _ _ _ [G] _ _
[C] _ _ _ _ [D] I've [C] had gangers big and tough.
[F] Tell me, tear it all out of rough.
[C] When you're [A] building up and tearing England [C] down.
_ _ I remember Carrier Jack, he [F] wore a HUD [G] upon his back.
[C] And he swore he'd [A] one day set the world [C] on fire. _ _
His face we've never seen [A] since [F] his shovel it [G] cut clean.
[C] Through the middle of a [G] big high [C] tension wire.
_ _ [Am] And my soil [F] balls, McCall, [Em] from the big flyover [E] fall.
[E] Into a concrete [G] mixer [F] spinning round. _
_ _ [C] Though it was not his intent, he [F] got a fine [G] head of cement.
When he [C] was building up and tearing England down. _ _
I was on the hydro dam, [G] [F] oh the day the [G] Pat McCann
[C] Got the better of [G] his stammer [C] in the week.
_ _ He fell from the shuttering jam, and [F] that poor old stuttering [G] man.
[C] He was never ever [G] more inclined [C] to speak. _
_ _ [E] And no more like [F] Robin Hood, [Em] will he roam through [E] Cricklewood.
Or [Am] dance [G] around the pubs of [F] Camden Town. _ _
[C] I'll let no man complain, [A] that [F] no navvy [G] dies in vain.
[C] When he's building up [G] and tearing [C] England down.
_ _ _ A man stood at the Golden Gate, his face was marred and [G] old. _
He looked towards the manifet for admission to the Ford.
_ What have you done, said Peter Ash, to seek admission [G] here?
_ [C] I've drove heavy machines for many a weary year. _ _
[Am] The Golden Gate flew open [F] wide when Peter [G] touched the bell.
[B] Step in to see, [Am] and choose your crew, [G] you've served your time [F] of hell.
_ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [G] _ _
[C] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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_ In a tunnel underground, a young limerick [G] man was found.
[C] He was built into [A] the new Victoria line. _ _ _
And when the bonus gang had passed, [F] sticking through the [G] concrete cast.
[C] Was the face of little [G] Charlie Joe [C] Divine.
_ _ [E] And the ganger man [F] McGork, said [E] Big Paddy ate the work.
[Am] When a gas pipe burst [G] and he flew [F] off the ground.
_ Well [C] this where he said, don't slack, I'll not be there [G] until I'm back.
[C] Keep on building up and tearing England down. _ _
So come you navvies bold, who do [Am] you think that [G] English goal.
Is [C] just waiting to be [G] plugged from every [C] sod.
_ _ Or that the likes of you and me will ever [F] get an OBE.
[C] Or a knighthood [A] for good service [C] to the hod. _
_ [Am] They've a concrete mass race, there [Em] to keep you [E] in your [Am] place.
And a ganger man [G] to kick you [F] to the ground.
_ If [C] you ever try to take part [F] of what the bosses [G] make.
[C] When you're building up and [G] tearing England [C] down.
_ _ If you ever try to take [F] part of what the bosses make.
When you're building up and tearing England [C] down.
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