Standard (EADGBE)

come Irish men both young and old

with adventure in your soul

there are better ways to spend your days

than tiolen down a hole

(chorus)

I was tall and true all of six foot two

till they broke me across the back

By a name I'm known it's not my own

they call me crooked jack

(second verse)

the blue eyed gangers pet was I

Big Jack could do no wrong

the reason simply was because

I could work hard hours and long

(chorus)

(third verse)

I've seen men old before their time

their faces dark and gray

I never thought that I myself

Would soon be the self same way

(Chorus)

(third verse)

I cursed the day I went away

To work on those Hydro dams

for sweat and tears or hope and fear

bound up a shuddering jams

(chorus)

(final verse)

they say that honest toil is good

for the body and the soul

but I tell you boys it's blood and sweat

that they want you down a hole.