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Dublin In The Rare Old Times By Pete St. John.

Based on the songs and the stories, heroes of reknown Are the passing tales and glories that once was Dublin town. The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes Are part of what was Dublin In The Rare Old Times. Ring-a-ring-rosie, as the light declines I remember Dublin city in the rare old times. My name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be. My trade I was cooper, lost out to redundancy Like my house that fell to progress, my trade to memory. And I courted Peggy Deignan, as pretty as you please Oh rogue and child of Mary from the rebel liberties. I lost her to a student lad with skin as black as coal When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul. Ah the years have made me bitter, the drink has dimmed my brain For Dublin keeps on changing and nothing seems the same. The Metropole and the Pillar are gone, the Royal long since pulled down. As the grey, unyielding concrete makes a city of my town. So fare thee well, my Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay. And watch the new glass cages that rise along the key. My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes I'm a part of what was Dublin in the rare old times.

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