The Dubliners - Sick Note lyrics

Dear Sir, I write this note to you to tell you of me plight And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight Me body is all black and blue, me face a d**hly gray And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today. While working on the 14th 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 an awkward – sod He said I'd have to cart them down the ladders in my hod Clearing all these bricks by hand it was so very slow So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below But in me 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 barrel fell like lead And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down. Well, the barrel broke me shoulder as to the ground it sped And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head Well, I clung on tight though numb with shock from this almighty blow And the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below. 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 I landed on the broken bricks that were all scattered round. I lay there groaning on the ground, I thought I'd pa**ed the worst When the barrel hit the pulley wheel and then the bottom burst Well, a shower of bricks rained down on me: I hadn't got a hope As I lay there moaning on the ground, I let go the bloody rope. The barrel then being heavier it started down once more And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor Well, it broke three ribs and me left arm and I can only say: That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today.