The Pogues ’Dirty Old Town’ on TV 1986

Shane MacGowan & The Pogues with ’Dirty Old Town’ on the Cargo de Nuit programme in Belgium December 3 1986. The song is from the ’Rum, Sodomy & the Lash’ album and was written by Kirsty MacCall’s father, Ewan MacColl about his hometown of Salford, Manchester in 1949, and was first made popular by The Dubliners. Lyrics I met my love by the gas works wall 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 are 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 I smelled the spring on the smoky wind Dirty old town Dirty old town I’m gonna 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 wall Dr