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Ewan MacColl - Dirty Old Town

from The Irish Wolfhounds by James Olin Oden

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about

I first heard this song from the Pogues with Shane MacGowan's near drunken vocals reeling me in. I later found that it was actually written by Ewan MacColl whose treatment of it is more akin to 50's rock and roll than the more Irish treatment that the Pogues gave it. If you have the opportunity listen to both if anything as study on how a song can be treated so remarkably different between individuals and yet maintain the spirit of the song.

lyrics

I met my love by the gas works cry,
Dreamed a dream by the old canal,
I kissed my girl by the factory wall,
Dirty old town, Dirty old town.

The clouds are drifting across the moon,
Cats are prowling on their beat,
Their springs a girl from the streets at night,
Dirty old town, Dirty old town.

I heard a siren coming from the docks,
Saw a train set the night on fire,
I smelled the spring on the smokey wind,
Dirty old town, Dirty old town.

I'm going to make me a big sharp axe,
Shining steel tempered in the fire,
I'll chop you down like a dead old tree,
Dirty old town, dirty old town

I met my love by the gas works cry,
Dreamed a dream by the old canal,
I kissed my girl by the factory wall,
Dirty old town, Dirty old town.

credits

from The Irish Wolfhounds, released May 1, 2009

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about

James Olin Oden Raleigh, North Carolina

It's always been about what moves the heart. The songs I sing are compelling stories whose telling must be told over and over again. The stories range from dark acts that should not be forgotten to the silly revelries that we should never forsake. My hope is that as my heart is moved by the music so too may yours be moved.

Sláinte Mhór...James

Licks and Lyrics Interview on WCOM 103.5: http://t
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