18 hundred and 51, work on the railroad was begun,
Work on the railroad was begun, workin' on the railroad.
Chorus
Patsy atsy ori ay, [repeat twice]
Workin' on the railroad.
1800 & 52, looking around for something to do, . . . .
1800 & 53, railroad company hired me, . . . .
1800 & 54, back was getting mighty sore, . . . .
1800 & 55, found myself more dead than alive, . . . .
1800 & 56, dropped a couple of dynamite sticks, . . . .
1800 & 57, found myself on the way to heaven, . . . .
1800 & 58, found myself at the Pearly Gate, . . . .
1800 & 59, found myself on a cloud sublime, . . . .
1800 & fifty-ten, started in all over again, . . . .