Roving Navvy Ian Woods Recorded by Gary & Vera Aspey Me name is Geordie Thompson, I'm a man of high renown Known all along the cut and in the nearby town A gallon of ale, two pounds of beef, I have every day So when me work is finished, it's a half crown for me pay Chorus : So it's .. Dig boys, load boys, ... then haul away Digging up the cut, me lads, up Manchester way I've cut the turf for many a mile and shovelled up the dirt I've picked me way through frozen earth wrapped up in me shirt I've laboured 'neath the burning sun, digging out the clay To trim away the levels all along the waterway I've had me share of randies, you can tell that by me scars I've done me share of porter drinking in the public bars I've laboured mortal drunk on a cold October's day And staggered till I nearly fell into the waterway I've had me share of women in many a shanty town 'Cos I reckon if I can chat to 'em, I can always bed 'em down But if I could live me life again this I'd always say A roving navvy I would be along the waterway Recorded on :