“Oul” Hydro

(Song written by Seamus Collins – Ballyoonan, Omeath and often sung by him at local gatherings)

In the sweet County Clare
In the year ‘52
A handsome young gallant
I’d nothing to do
Like the geese of old
I spread wings and flew
Said farewell to old Ireland for ever

Chorus:
Oh, I worked up in Scotland, I worked down in Wales
I worked round the Midlands
I worked down in Kent
I worked all around
Till my oul back got bent
And now they just call me
“Oul” Hydro

I dogged it for Wimpy, McAlpine and Laing
I tunneled for Lillie, I spent the night long
And for Murphy the green
And for Murphy the grey
I pulled miles of cable
O’er highway and lay
For the tiger they called me in my younger days
But now they just call me
“Oul” hydro

Chorus:

I dossed down in shacks
That were draughty and damp
I jacked or got sacked and went back on the tramp
I tramped the high roads 
From camp to big camp
Altna Lairge and Cruachan and Sheera
They are the names you can hear
From my lips every day
That’s why they now call me
“Oul” hydro

Chorus:

(oh) The night we got paid we went out on the town
We got blind drunk and fought 
And some damped the bed down
But we faced the big mixer next morning
Aye we faced the big mixer to work in small teams
And give of our best to the big hydro schemes
Aye I gave my best years to the big hydro schemes
That’s why they now call me
“Oul” hydro

Chorus: