Dirty Old Town
By Ewan McColl

 

I met my love by the gas works croft 
Dreamed a dream by the old canal 
I Kissed my girl by the factory wall 
Dirty old town 
Dirty old town 
 
Clouds are drifting across the moon 
Cats a prowling on their beat 
Spring's a girl from the streets at night 
Dirty old town 
Dirty old town 
 
I Heard a siren from the docks 
Saw a train set the night on fire 
Smelled the spring on the smoky wind 
Dirty old town 
Dirty old town 
 
I'm going to make me a good sharp axe 
Shining steel tempered in the fire 
I'll chop you down like an old dead tree 
Dirty old town 
Dirty old town 
 
I met my love by the gas works croft 
Dreamed a dream by the old canal 
I Kissed my girl by the factory wall 
Dirty old town 
Dirty old town 


 
Information

Originally this song was performed by The Pogues, until they joined up with the Dubliners for a few songs, most notably the chart topper 'The Irish Rover'. Personally I prefer Luke Kelly of the Dubliners' version, it's more lively... Here is a video of Christy Moore and Shane McGowan singing Dirty Old Town. The quality is very good so it will take a long time to download on a slow connection (Boo Eircom - and their high cost broadband). Read my Video FAQ for more info.

 

Christy Moore & Shane McGowan - Dirty Old Town

 Video of Christy Moore & Shane McGowan singing Dirty Old Town

 

Also here's a clip of "The Irish Rover" in Windows Media Format, it will take about a minute and a half on 28.8k to load so be patient, move your cursor over it to play it. It's taken from the Late Late show in 1987! Almost every folk singer in the country is in this clip, even Christy Moore...

The Dubliners - The Irish Rover

Video Clip of 'The Irish Rover' by The Dubliners & The Pogues

 

Download Dirty Old Town in MP3 format
Performed by Luke Kelly

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