McAlpines Fusiliers' sheet music and tin whistle notes
McAlpine's Fusiliers Easy Tin / Penny Whistle Sheet Music Notes. Recorded by The Dubliners and written by Irish singer / songwriter Dominic Behan. This version by The Ronnie Drew Group who later became The Dubliners. Ciaran Burke on tin whistle, Bobby Lynch on guitar along with Ronnie, Barney McKenna on banjo and John Sheehan on the other whistle. There's an easy to follow video showing how to play the tune on the piano keyboard using basic letter notes. The song lyrics and chords of McAlpine's Fusiliers which only uses a couple of the basic chords is also include and suitable for beginners. This is one of those well known Irish songs that was never really a hit or recorded by anybody except the Dubliners, you could say they made it their own. But, it did get recorded by Irish ballad group The Whistlin' Donkeys in 2019 who done a great job on the song. McAlpines fusiliers piano keyboard letter notes now added for beginners plus a pdf file.
Song meaning.
"McAlpine’s Fusiliers" is a traditional Irish folk song that tells the story of the hardships endured by Irish laborers (often referred to as "navvies") who worked on large construction projects in Britain during the 20th century. It was popularized by The Dubliners, and it captures themes of exploitation, hard labor, camaraderie, and resilience among the Irish working class.
1. Historical Context
2. Hard Labor and Harsh Conditions
3. Exploitation by Employers
4. Camaraderie and Resilience
5. Cultural Significance
Summary"McAlpine’s Fusiliers" is a powerful folk ballad that tells the story of Irish laborers working under harsh conditions in Britain. With its themes of exploitation, resilience, and camaraderie, the song serves as a tribute to the struggles and spirit of the Irish working class, capturing a significant chapter in Irish emigrant history.
"McAlpine’s Fusiliers" is a traditional Irish folk song that tells the story of the hardships endured by Irish laborers (often referred to as "navvies") who worked on large construction projects in Britain during the 20th century. It was popularized by The Dubliners, and it captures themes of exploitation, hard labor, camaraderie, and resilience among the Irish working class.
1. Historical Context
- The song references Sir Robert McAlpine, a prominent British industrialist and construction magnate. His company employed many Irish laborers, especially during the 1930s to the 1960s, when economic hardship drove many Irish men to emigrate in search of work.
- The "Fusiliers" in the title is a metaphorical term, likening the workers to soldiers. While they weren’t fighting in wars, they endured dangerous and grueling work on construction sites across Britain.
2. Hard Labor and Harsh Conditions
- The lyrics detail the dangerous and physically demanding work undertaken by these Irish laborers. The line "We worked near dam near drowned", for instance, alludes to the risks faced by those building tunnels, canals, and railroads.
- The work was often poorly paid, and Irish workers frequently faced discrimination and exploitation, leading to a strong sense of camaraderie among them.
3. Exploitation by Employers
- Sir Robert McAlpine is depicted as a symbol of the ruthless employer, and the workers are portrayed as being at the mercy of their bosses. The song captures the frustration and resentment felt by many Irish navvies toward their employers, who benefited from their labor without regard for their well-being.
4. Camaraderie and Resilience
- Despite the hardships, the song also reflects the solidarity and humor shared by the Irish workers. They endured their situation together, often using music and storytelling as a way to cope with their struggles and keep their spirits high.
- The song reflects the toughness and pride of the Irish navvies, who took pride in their hard work and survived in a hostile environment through sheer determination and unity.
5. Cultural Significance
- "McAlpine’s Fusiliers" is not just a song about hard labor—it’s a testament to the resilience of the Irish emigrant experience. It highlights a period in Irish history when emigration was a necessity for survival, and many Irish men contributed to the building of modern Britain through backbreaking labor.
- The song remains a popular anthem of the Irish working class, symbolizing the experiences of generations of Irish laborers abroad.
Summary"McAlpine’s Fusiliers" is a powerful folk ballad that tells the story of Irish laborers working under harsh conditions in Britain. With its themes of exploitation, resilience, and camaraderie, the song serves as a tribute to the struggles and spirit of the Irish working class, capturing a significant chapter in Irish emigrant history.

mcalpines-fusilierspiano-sheet-music-with-chords-pdf.pdf |
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible. All the songs have lyrics.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible. All the songs have lyrics.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
The notes below are the one's I'm playing in the video. They are only slightly different than the sheet music and are in the same key. It's up to yourself how you want to play it.
McAlpines sheet music notes in the key of D Major in Do Re Mi