G C G e
Raised on songs and stories
C
Heroes of reknown
G C G
The passing tales and glories
D
That once was Dublin town
G C G
The hallowed halls and houses
e C
The haunting children's rhymes
G C
That once was part of Dublin
G D G
In the rare old times.
Chorus:
G C G e
Ring a ring a rosie
C
As the light declines
G C
I remember Dublin City
G D G
In the rare old times.
My name it is Sean Dempsey
As Dublin as could be
Born hard and late in Pimlico
In a house that's ceased to be.
By trade I was a cooper
Lost out to redundancy
Like my house that fell to progress
My trade's a memory.
I courted Peggy Diagnam
As pretty as you please
A gentle child of Mary
From the rebel liberties.
I lost her to a student chap
With skin as black as coal
When he took her off to Birmingham
She took away my soul.
Chorus
The years have made me bitter
The gargles 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 great and unyielding concrete
Makes a city of my town.
Chorus
Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey
I can no longer stay
And watch the new glass cages
That spring up along the quay.
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.
Chorus