Dubliners - The Sick Note lyrics

rate me

Dear Sir, I write this note to you to tell you of me plight<br />

and at the time of writing, I am not a pretty sight;<br />

my body is all black and blue, my face a deathly gray<br />

and I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today. <br />

<br />

While working on the fourteenth floor some bricks I had to clear;<br />

now, to throw them down from such a height was not a good idea.<br />

the foreman wasn't very pleased, he beeing an awkward sod<br />

he said I'd have to cart them down the ladders in me hod. <br />

<br />

Now, clearing all these bricks by hand it was so very slow,<br />

so I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below.<br />

But in me haste to do the job I was to blind to see<br />

that a barrelful of building bricks was heavier than me. <br />

<br />

So when I untied the rope the barrel fell like lead<br />

and clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead.<br />

Well, I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found<br />

that halfway up I met the bloody barrel comming down. <br />

<br />

Well, the barrel broke me shoulder as to the ground it sped,<br />

and when I reached the top I banged the pully with my head.<br />

Well, I clung on tight through numbed shock from this almighty blow<br />

and the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below. <br />

<br />

Now, when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor<br />

I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more;<br />

still clinging tightly to the rope, I sped towards the ground,<br />

and I landed on the brocken bricks that were all scattered round. <br />

<br />

Well, I lay there groaning on the ground, I thougth I'd passed the worst,<br />

when the barrel hit the pully-wheel and then the bottom burst.<br />

Well, a shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope<br />

as I lay there moaning on the ground, I let go of the bloody rope. <br />

<br />

The barrel than being heavier, it started down once more,<br />

and landed right across me, as I lay upon the floor.<br />

Well, it broke three ribs and my left arm and I can only say<br />

that I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not a work today.