McAlpine's Fusiliers Lyrics by The High Kings (2024)

Song Details

Writer: Traditional air popularized by Dominic Behan

Brief: McAlpine's Fusiliers were gangs of Irishmen who worked in the UK for a large firm called Sir Robert McAlpine Civil Engineering LTD... along with many days of hard work, there were also many nights of hard drinking!

The following is an excerpt from The Mudcat Cafe by Jon Jos in relation to the song:

The nickname "McAlpines Fusiliers" came from a regiment in the North Irish Brigade of the British Army - The Royal Irish Fusiliers.Most of the men in my platoon were from the south of Ireland and a lot of those had worked for Wimpey or McAlpine. So for a joke, I called the platoon "McAlpines Fusiliers" as compared to other platoons with a lot of English National Servicemen in them.It was 1952 and we were on a route march from Lisnally Camp thru the Glens of Co. Tyrone when the news that King George 6th had died was passed down to our platoon. A loud cheer went up, much to the rage of the Orange N.C.O's.One fella started to sing -"Down the glen came Sarsfields Men" I shouted "McAlpine's Men with their rifles slung behind them" This other fella changed it to "shovels". We had stopped for a short rest and later on I said "Now we're on the road again". That fella said, "With McAlpine's Fusiliers". And later on in the march, this particular N.C.O. kicked me up the arse for lagging behind. That fella again shouted, "If you pride ya' life don't join by Christ McAlpine's Fusiliers"... mudcat.org

After building this page I was thrilled to receive an email from Jon Jos which read:

"I am nearly 90 now and still remember the banter I had with that lad while on that route march. We were being harassed by those sergeants who called us " Low life Fenian B******s and we sang party songs to annoy them and put in a few of our own words. The Korean war was in progress and we were in training as replacements from the Irish Fusiliers to the R. Ulster rifles who had taken heavy casualties. That lad never came back from his embarkation leave, so I suppose he must have gone back to work and remembered the tune etc. and put in his own experience working on sites. As for me, I had forgotten all about that time in 1952 until I heard the song by "The Dubliners" and remembered the tune and some of the words from that time. A name Darky McClafferty has been claimed as writing the song also Dominic Behan. The discussion on Mudcat had been active for ten years before I added my post. I hope I cleared up a bit of the mystery. Thanks Again & Best Wishes. John Cuddihy (JonJos)

☘ Many thanks to John for sharing his memorable experiences with us. ☘

References:
navvies - British term for building labourers especially those working on canals or inland waterways.
spike - Hostel or casual ward in a workhouse for men with no fixed address or the homeless. It was also a name used by Irish navvies who couldn't find or afford lodgings.
shuddering (shuttering) - a rapidly constructed wooden casing made to hold concrete while it sets
N.C.O - non-commissioned office.

Category: Irish Folk song

Covers: Paddy Reilly, The Dubliners, Patsy Watchorn, The Young Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, The Rumjacks, Dominic Behan.

Album: Friends For Life... (September 20, 2013)