The Sicknote
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The Sicknote (Irish traditional song)  Dear sir I write this note to tell you of my plight And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight My body is all black and blue my face a deathly grey And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today While working on the fourteenth floor some bricks I had to clear Now to throw them down from such a height was not a good idea The foreman wasn't very pleased he being a awkward sod He said I'd have to cart them down the ladders in my hod Now clearing all those bricks by hand it was so very slow So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below But in my haste to do the job I was too blind to see That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me So when I untied the rope the barrle fell like lead And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead Well I shot up like a rocket 'til to my dismay I found That halfway up I met the bloody barrle coming down Well the barrle broke my shoulder as to the ground it sped And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head Well I clung on tight though numb with shock from this almighty blow And the barrel emptied half the bricks fourteen floors below Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more Still clinging tightly to the rope I sped towards the ground And landed on the broken bricks that were all scattered around Well I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst When the barrel hit the pulley wheel and then the bottom burst A shower of bricks rained down on me I didn't have a hope As I lay there moaning on the ground I let go of the bloody rope Well the barrel being heavier it started down once more And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor It broke three ribs and my left arm and I can only say That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today |
