Rare Ould Times

Raised on songs & stories, heroes of renown

The passing tales & glories that once was Dublin Town

The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes

That once was Dublin City in the rare ould times.

Chorus:

Ringa Ringa Rosey as the light declines

I'll remember Dublin City in the rare ould Times.

My name it is Sean Dempsey as Dublin as could be

Born hard & late in Pimlico in a house that ceased to be

My trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy

Like my house that fell to progress my trades a memory

I courted Peggy Digman as pretty as you please.

A rage and child of Mary from the rebel liberties

I lost her to a student chap with skin as back as coal

When he took her off to Birmingham she took away my soul.

The years have made me bitter the gargle dims me brain

Cause Dublin keeps on changing and Nothing seems the same.

The Pillar and the Met have gone the Royal long since pulled down

As the grey unyielding concrete makes a city of my Town.

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey I can no longer stay

And watch me new glass cages that spring up along me Ouay

My mind's too full of memories too old to hear new chimes

l'm a part of what was Dublin in the rare ould times.