Crooked Jack

(Traditional - Lyrics by Dominic Behan - Arranged and performed by David Archer, Toronto ,2010) Crooked Jack Come Irishmen both young and stern With adventure in your soul There's better ways to spend your days Than working down the hole I was tall and true, all of six foot two When they broke me across the back By a name I am known, and it's not my own No they call me Crooked Jack The ganger's blue-eyed pet was I Big Jack could do no wrong And the reason simply was I worked hours on and on I cursed the day I went away To work on the hydro dams Of hopes and fears and blood and tears Caught up in a shuttering jam They say an honest toil is good For spirit and for soul But it's for flesh and blood me boys They want you down the hole