Words to "Murphy's not at work today"

[Bill Johnson]

Does anyone know the words to the first verse of a song that ends "I hope you'll understand why Murphy's not at work today". It seems to be
based on an old Gerald Hoffnung story about a workman hoisting up bricks in a barrel. We want to make a short film based on it but have
everthing except the first verse.

[Lawrence]

Hi
The following "barrel of bricks" entered into google.com brings up a few
versions of the original story.
Don't know if they is any use to you.

regards
Lawrence

[Dan Goodman]

Bill Johnson <bill.g....@btopenworld.com> wrote in
news:1103_10...@news.btopenworld.com:

Pedantic correction: the story is older than Hoffnung.

[Burke54]

Bill Johnson <bill.g....@btopenworld.com> wrote in message news:<1103_10...@news.btopenworld.com>...

> Does anyone know the words to the first verse of a song that ends "I hope you'll understand why Murphy's not at work today". It seems to be
> based on an old Gerald Hoffnung story about a workman hoisting up bricks in a barrel. We want to make a short film based on it but have
> everthing except the first verse.

The Sick note/Murphy (Paddy) and the Bricks/Excuse Note... is by Pat
Cooksey. He posted background information about it in Mudcat last
month. http://ragtime.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47508

The words are also available there as well:
http://ragtime.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=7866

WHY PADDY'S NOT AT WORK TODAY (Excuse Note)
(Pat Cooksey)

Dear Sir I write this note to inform you of my plight
And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly gray
I write this note to tell why Paddy's not at work today

While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear
And to throw them down from off the top seemed quite a good idea
But the gaffer wasn't very pleased, he was an awful sod
He said I had to cart them down the ladder in me hod.

Well clearing all those bricks by hand, it seemed 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 is heavier than me.

So when I had untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
I took off like a rocket and to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.

Well the barrel broke my shoulder as on to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head
I held on tight, though numb with shock from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half its load fourteen floors below

Now when those building bricks fell from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel so I started down once more
I held on tightly to the rope as I flew to the ground
And I landed on those building bricks that were scattered all
around.

Now as I lay there on the deck I thought I'd passed the worst
But when the barrel reached the top, that's when the bottom burst
A shower of bricks came down on me, I knew I had no hope
In all of this confusion, I let go the bloody rope.

The barrel being heavier, it started down once more
And landed right on top of me as I lay on the floor
It broke three ribs and my left arm, and I can only say
That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today.

[Gerry Myerson]

In article <1103_10...@news.btopenworld.com>, Bill Johnson
<bill.g....@btopenworld.com> wrote:

> Does anyone know the words to the first verse of a song that ends "I hope
> you'll understand why Murphy's not at work today".

Here's what it says at the Digital Tradition database.

Why Paddy's Not At Work Today (Excuse Note)
Pat Cooksey

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Celtic Music
recorded by Ian MacIntosh
--
Gerry Myerson (ge...@mpce.mq.edi.ai) (i -> u for email)

[The Daring Douglasses]

I know the song, here's the version that I use. I'm not sure where I got the
lyrics from, but I do know that Rowan, a musician on the Renn Faire Circuit,
sings a version that is fairly similar. If pressed I'd guess that I found it
either on Mudcat or Cantaria

Sean K. Miller
America's Premier Fully Bearded Professional Fire Eater
www.beardedfireeater.com

Why Paddy's Not At Work Today

Dear Boss I write this note to you to tell you of my plight

And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight

Me body is all black and blue and me face a deadly gray
And I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today

I was workin' on the 14th floor; some bricks I had to clear
And throwin' 'em down from such a height was not a good idea
The foreman wasn't very pleased, he bein' an awful sod
And he said I'd have to take them down the ladder in me hod

Now shiftin' all those bricks by hand it seemed so awful slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured a rope below
But in my haste to do the job I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of buildin' bricks was heaveier than me

Now when I came down I cut the rope and the barrel fell like lead

And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead

I shot up like a rocket and to my dismay I found
That halfways up I met the bloody barrel comin' down

Now the barrel broke me shoulder as to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I struck the pulley with me head
I still clung on though numbed and shocked from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half the bricks 14 floors below

Now when the bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and I started down once more
Still clinging tightly to the rope I headed for the ground
And I fell among the broken bricks that were all scatter'd 'round

As I lay there moaning on the floor sure I thought I'd passed the worst
Then the barrel struck the pulley wheel and didn't the bottom burst
A shower of bricks came down on me sure I haven't got a hope
And as I was losing consciousness... I let go the bloody rope

Now the barrel it being heavier it started down once more
And it landed right across me as I lay there on the floor
I broke three ribs and my left arm and I can only say
That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today

---
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[Django Reinstone]

Check the <a href="http://www.mudcat.org/threads.cfm">Mudcat Cafe</a>
for a number of threads on this song: Type "The Sick Note" into the
box that says "Digitrad and Forum Search".
In a recent development, the song's author, Pat Cooksey, has made some
posts to Mudcat. To find his comments, go to the "Quick Links" box at
the right top of the forum, click on "Forum Search" and type in "Pat
Cooksey".
Hope this helps!
Cheers, Django

[Abby Sale]

Check Digital Tradition, http://www.mudcat.org/folksearch.html data base
under "Excuse Note." You might also wish to check the considerable
discussion of the song there at the Mudcat Cafe and in the Google archives
of this group. If you use the story, that's fine, but if you use the
_song_ you should note that it is the sole work of Pat Cooksey. In the
Mudcat discussion, you'll find his (very valid) claim and link to his
website.

He seems a very decent guy and has produced one of the World's enduring
songs. Unfortunately, he's barely been paid pennies for it. If you are
making a film you should clearly get with him about the copyrights.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
I am Abby Sale - in Orlando, Florida
Boycott South Carolina!
http://www.naacp.org/news/releases/confederateflag011201.shtml

[Tony Spadaro]

John Roberts used to sing it - or perhaps Tony Barrand. I don't remember if
they ever recorded it.

--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
Photography ... the hard way
and partial home of
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
a Radical approach to photography.
The Links are at
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/links.html

"Bill Johnson" <bill.g....@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:1103_10...@news.btopenworld.com...

[Tony Spadaro]

BTW the plot was printed twice in the National Lampoon - in their "True
Facts" section, as being an actual article from an English newspaper. This
was actually before the Nat Lamp became the humour magazine of the far
right.

--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
Photography ... the hard way
and partial home of
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
a Radical approach to photography.
The Links are at
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/links.html
"Bill Johnson" <bill.g....@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:1103_10...@news.btopenworld.com...

[Birdman566]

Dear Sir I write this note to you to tell you of my plight
For at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight,

My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly gray

and I wrote this note to say why Paddy's not at work today.
Words Pat Cooksey
Performed by "The Fureys and Davey Arthur" and by others as well
Good Luck with your project.
--John

[Cyril]

"Tony Spadaro" <tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
news:ED7Q8.125962$6v2.5...@twister.southeast.rr.com...

> John Roberts used to sing it - or perhaps Tony Barrand. I don't remember
if
> they ever recorded it.
>

Also recorded (at least) twice by Irish singer Noel Murphy, under the title
"Murphy and the Bricks". The Dubliners recorded it on one of their
anniversary albums (25th, 30th or 35th, but I forget which!) under the title
"Sick Note".

Cyril

[adrian_cameron]

Great song - sang it myself on occasion.

By far the best version I heard was by Seamus Creagh which I taped off a BBC
radio session many years ago when he was playing with Jackie Daly. The thick
Munster accent used really suited the song although I recent;y learned
Seamus was originally from Westmeath. (Have I been wrong all these years and
in fact Jackie Daly sang?)
Misplaced the tape unfortunately
Has anyone else got a copy of this or know if it is available commercially?

Regards
Adrian
BTW first post to NG so probably messed something.