I'm an honest Irish laborer, and I come from the county Clare. I used to have a little farm with nothing much to spare. But I had to sell me donkey, and me little billy goat, and with the money I received to Glasgow took the boat.
As soon as I had landed, before me hair was dry, I was started at the Mickey Dam in a place they call Milngavie. And the ganger who looked over us, they called him Jon the Mouse, on the very day I first began with me he sought to grouse. Well I quickly surprised him, and I said "You little rat, I'll tie a string about your neck and toss you to the cat."
For I'm strong as any lion, I was raised on eggs and ham, I'm the terror of all fighting men around the Mickey Dam.