Dirty Old Town
Encyclopedia
"Dirty Old Town" is a song written by Ewan MacColl
in 1949 that was made popular by The Dubliners
and has been recorded by many others since.
, in Lancashire
, England, and the place where Ewan MacColl
was born and brought up. It was originally composed for an interlude to cover an awkward scene change in Ewan MacColl
's Salford-set, 1949 play Landscape with Chimneys, but with the growing popularity of folk music
the song became a standard. The song paints an evocative yet ultimately bitter picture of industrial
northern England
, and presages to some extent the Angry Young Man
school of the 1950s.
When MacColl first wrote the song, the local council were unhappy at having Salford called a dirty old town and, after considerable criticism, the words of the song were changed from "smelled the smoke on the Salford wind" to "smelled the spring on the smoky wind". The Spinners
made the first popular recording of the song and they sang "Salford wind". This was hardly surprising as the lead singer on the track was Mick Groves, a Salfordian.
The song was therefore written about an English town; but because of the song's later association with The Dubliners
and The Pogues
, many people tend to think of it as an Irish song
, and as such, in Ireland
the lyrics are popularly thought to refer to Belfast
, Dublin or Derry
– a counter-part to the latter being Phil Coulter
's "The Town I Loved So Well
".
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Clouds are drifting across the moon
Cats are prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl in the street at night
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
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 a good sharp axe
Shining steel tempered in the fire
Will chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
I met my love by the gas works crofts
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
in 1949 that was made popular by The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
and has been recorded by many others since.
History
The song was written in reference to SalfordSalford
Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Salford is sited in a meander of the River Irwell, which forms its boundary with the city of Manchester to the east. Together with its neighbouring towns to the west, Salford...
, in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England, and the place where Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
was born and brought up. It was originally composed for an interlude to cover an awkward scene change in Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
's Salford-set, 1949 play Landscape with Chimneys, but with the growing popularity of folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
the song became a standard. The song paints an evocative yet ultimately bitter picture of industrial
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
, and presages to some extent the Angry Young Man
Angry young men
The "angry young men" were a group of mostly working and middle class British playwrights and novelists who became prominent in the 1950s. The group's leading members included John Osborne and Kingsley Amis.The phrase was originally coined by the Royal Court Theatre's press officer to promote John...
school of the 1950s.
When MacColl first wrote the song, the local council were unhappy at having Salford called a dirty old town and, after considerable criticism, the words of the song were changed from "smelled the smoke on the Salford wind" to "smelled the spring on the smoky wind". The Spinners
The Spinners (UK band)
The Spinners were a 1960s folk group from Liverpool, England formed in September 1958. They consisted of:* Hughie Jones...
made the first popular recording of the song and they sang "Salford wind". This was hardly surprising as the lead singer on the track was Mick Groves, a Salfordian.
The song was therefore written about an English town; but because of the song's later association with The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
and The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
, many people tend to think of it as an Irish song
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
, and as such, in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
the lyrics are popularly thought to refer to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Dublin or Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
– a counter-part to the latter being Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
's "The Town I Loved So Well
The Town I Loved So Well
"The Town I Loved So Well" is a song written by Phil Coulter about his childhood in Derry, Northern Ireland. The first three verses are about the simple lifestyle he grew up with in Derry, while the final two deal with the Troubles, and lament how his placid hometown had become a major military...
".
Recordings and performances
Notable renditions of the song include:- Boston folk singer Jackie Washington/Jack LandronJackie Washington/Jack LandronJack Landron is an Afro-Puerto Rican folksinger, songwriter, and actor. Because he had gone by "Jackie Washington" earlier in his career, he is often confused with the Canadian Jackie Washington, , who was a blues and jazz performer Jack Landron is an Afro-Puerto Rican folksinger, songwriter, and...
on his Jackie Washington album, 1962 - Esther Ofarim After coming second in the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
in 1963 with the song "T'en vas pas", Esther Ofarim released a number of songs in the following years including versions of "Dirty Old Town" in both 1963 and 1964 - The SpinnersThe Spinners (UK band)The Spinners were a 1960s folk group from Liverpool, England formed in September 1958. They consisted of:* Hughie Jones...
, The SettlersThe Settlers (band)The Settlers were a folk-oriented group from the English West Midlands , who formed in the mid 1960s. They started out as a trio comprising Cindy Kent , Mike Jones and John Fyffe , but added a bassist, Mansel Davies.-Formation...
, Donovan, and Chad & Jeremy, all in 1964 (the Spinners version was later used in the 2008 Terence Davies film about LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Of Time and the CityOf Time and the CityOf Time and the City is a 2008 documentary film directed by Terence Davies.The film has Davies recalling his life growing up in Liverpool in the 1950s and 1960s, using newsreel and documentary footage supplemented by his own commentary voiceover and contemporaneous and classical music...
) - Roger WhittakerRoger WhittakerRoger Whittaker is an Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of over 55 million. His music can be described as easy listening. He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability...
, in 1968 - The DublinersThe DublinersThe Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, on their 1968 album Drinkin' and Courtin'Drinkin' and Courtin'Drinkin' and Courtin is an album by The Dubliners. It was originally released in 1968. The line-up consists of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ciaran Bourke and John Sheahan. Two tracks are instrumentals. Five of the songs are comic...
, as well as numerous live albums thereafter - Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, on his 1969 first album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You DownAn Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You DownAn Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down was the debut album by Rod Stewart, released on February 1970 on Vertigo Records... - The Clancy BrothersThe Clancy BrothersThe Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music singing group, most popular in the 1960s, they were famed for their woolly Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Patrick "Paddy" Clancy, Tom Clancy, Bobby Clancy...
, on their 1970 album Flowers in the Valley, sung by Liam ClancyLiam ClancyWilliam "Liam" Clancy was an Irish folk singer and actor from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. He was the youngest and last surviving member of performing group The Clancy Brothers. The group were regarded as Ireland's first pop stars... - Eddie CarrEddie CarrEdward Miller 'Eddie' Carr was an English professional footballer and manager.-Career:Born in Wheatley Hill, Carr started his career at Arsenal, joining in 1935 but he spent the first two years of his career there on loan at their nursery club, Margate...
- 45 on People label - unusual for being a R&B/soul version - The PoguesThe PoguesThe Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
, on their 1985 second album, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash, the rendition perhaps most familiar to modern audiences - Graham NortonGraham NortonGraham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
in his role as Father Noel Furlong in the sitcom series Father TedFather TedFather Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May... - U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
performed it as a brief seriocomic interlude on their Zoo TV TourZoo TV TourThe Zoo TV Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Staged in support of their 1991 album Achtung Baby, the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 1992 through 1993...
of 1992–1993 - Townes Van ZandtTownes Van ZandtJohn Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
and a limited edition single, recorded September 1996 at Flashpoint Studios in the U.S. - Breton singer Gilles ServatGilles ServatGilles Servat is a French singer, born in Tarbes in southern France in 1945, into a family whose roots lay in the Nantes region of Brittany.He spent his early childhood around Nantes and Cholet. His music evoques the Isle of Groix, off the coast of Morbihan.His music was originally inspired by the...
created two French translations of this song, one for his studio recording Sur les quais de Dublin (1996) and another one for his live album Touche pas à la Blanche Hermine (1998) - French singer Hugues AufrayHugues AufrayHugues Aufray is a French singer. He began his career singing in Spanish....
translated it as "Chacun Sa Mer" for his album Chacun Sa Mer! (1999) - The Mountain GoatsThe Mountain GoatsThe Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
in 2002 - Swiss Punkt/Irish Folk trio Tortilla Flat on a single CD and an album Dirty Old Town in 2004/2005
- Ted Leo and the PharmacistsTed Leo and the PharmacistsTed Leo and the Pharmacists are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. and currently recording for Matador Records. They have released six full-length studio albums and have toured internationally...
, on their 2003 EP, Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is DeadTell Balgeary, Balgury is DeadTell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead is an EP released in 2003 by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, although it mostly comprises Ted Leo's solo work. The title track is carried over from the band's previous album, Hearts of Oak, as is "The High Party"... - Frank BlackFrank BlackBlack Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
, on his 2006 double album, Fast Man Raider ManFast Man Raider ManFast Man Raider Man is a solo double album by Frank Black released in 2006.-Disc one:#"If Your Poison Gets You" - 2:56#"Johnny Barleycorn" - 4:50... - Jason Devore, lead singer of Authority ZeroAuthority ZeroAuthority Zero is a punk rock band from Mesa, Arizona. The band's style is rooted in reggae and skate punk, with Bad Religion, Pennywise, and Sublime cited as influences. The band also draws from Spanish/Portuguese influences.-History:...
on his solo album Conviction in 2006 - Newfoundland Folk band The Irish DescendantsThe Irish DescendantsThe Irish Descendants are a folk group from the Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. All the members, born of Irish emitters, were workers in the Newfoundland fishing industry before forming the band in 1990 out of the remnants of two former Newfoundland bands – The Descendants...
on their 1996 album Livin' on the Edge - Lorraine LeckieLorraine LeckieLorraine Leckie is a NYC based singer/songwriter. She performs solo and with her band, Lorraine Leckie and her Demons.-Biography:Leckie was born and raised in Whitby, Ontario, near Toronto With sister Brenda Turansky and brother Paul Turansky...
, on her 2008 album Four Cold Angels (Lorraine Leckie and her Demons) with Spider StacySpider StacyPeter "Spider" Stacy is an English musician. He is one of the founding members of London Irish band The Pogues.- External links :* [Twitter @SpiderStacy] [myspace.com/spiderstacythepogues]*...
(of the Pogues) and Anton NewcombeAnton NewcombeAnton Alfred Newcombe is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the music group, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Music:...
(of the Brian Jonestown Massacre) - Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubBlack Rebel Motorcycle ClubBlack Rebel Motorcycle Club is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, now based in Los Angeles. BRMC is known for their garage rock, blues, folk revival, neo-psychedelia sound. They are influenced by bands such as: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Verve, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, T...
, on their 2009 live album, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club LiveBlack Rebel Motorcycle Club LiveThe DVDs feature more than two hours of concert footage captured from three sold out shows in Berlin, Dublin and Glasgow, and chronicles the end of the band's 2007 tour in support of Baby 81... - Cutthroat Shamrock, on their 2009 album, "Blood Rust Whiskey"
- Korean punk band Crying NutCrying NutCrying Nut is an influential punk band from South Korea.They have performed together since 1995 and recorded their debut album called Crying Nut in 1998. They are the best selling independent rock band in South Korea. In 2002 they recorded the official Team Korea song for the 2002 World Cup...
frequently perform the song live, despite not having a singer fluent in English - Paolo NutiniPaolo NutiniPaolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations....
recently performed the song Live at Paisley Town Hall in August 2010 - Daniel, Fred and Julie did not include it on their 2009 album, but did include it in their live set
- The song was played during the closing credits of the final espisode of "Rescue Me", in its final season on FX, Sep 7th, 2011.
Lyrics
I met my love by the gas works croftsDreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Clouds are drifting across the moon
Cats are prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl in the street at night
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
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 a good sharp axe
Shining steel tempered in the fire
Will chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
I met my love by the gas works crofts
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Dirty old town