The Cambridge Navvies by Patrick Olsen 2017

The Cambridge Navvies by Patrick Olsen 2017

The /Nav-vies were men who / made the can-als for / twelve hours a day they’d / sweat with their pals movin’ / twenty tonnes of earth in a / barrow up a plank… and / leavin’ it all at the /top of the bank.

The navvies were men who / laid the train tracks / Cutting through hills with a / pick and an axe. / Lay-in’ the ties… / covered them with stones. Sun / burning their skin and / Wind freezing their bones.

When the / whistle would blow, they’d off to their homes, / Built near the tracks so they’d /not far to go. For / wages they’d get beef and a gallon of beer.. then / they’d drink and stink all with a / very good cheer.

When / they got near Cambridge, they ran into a bind, The / colleges they said, (suddenly whispering) “noisy navvies must pay a fine” (a little louder) So the / navvies built the station… a / mile out of town…(loud again) Where they / wouldn’t disturb all the men in their gowns.

Well our train tracks and boat paths are amazingly loooooong (hold this note until everyone turns blue) Built by the navvies the / heroes of song.

CHORUS Oh the Nav-vies came to our town from Ireland and Cornwall and all around Oh the Nav-vies united they stand from Wales and Scotland and far away lands