Dubliners - The Sick Note (Why Paddy's Not At Work Today) lyrics

Dear sir, I write this note to you, to tell you of me plight And at the time of writing, I am not a pretty sight My body is all black and blue, me face a d**hly gray And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work, today While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear Now, to throw them down from such a height, it was not a good idear The foreman wasn't very pleased, he being an awkward sod He said I'd have to take them down the ladders in me hod Now clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow So I hoisted up a barrel, and secured the rope below But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me And so when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead Well, I shot up like a rocket, 'til to my dismay I found That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down Well the barrel broke me shoulder, as to the ground it sped And when I reached the top, I banged the pulley with me head Well, I clung on tight, though numbed with shock, from this almighty blow And the barrel spilled out half the bricks, fourteen floors below Now, when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more Still clinging tightly to the rope, I sped towards the ground And I landed on the broken bricks the barrel scattered round I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd pa**ed the worst When the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst Well, a shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope As I lay there bleeding on the ground, I let go the bloody rope The barrel then being heavier, it started down once more And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor Well, it broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say That I hope you understand, why Paddy's not at work today