The Rare Auld Times

Raised on songs and stories,

heroes of renown,

The passing tales and glories,

that once was Dublin town,

The hallowed halls and houses,

the haunting children's rhymes,

That once was part of Dublin,

in the rare auld times.

Ring a ring a rosie

as the light declines,

I remember Dublin city

in the rare auld times.

Well me name it is Sean Dempsey

as Dublin as could be,

Born hard and 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 trade's a memory

And I courted Peggy Dignan,

as pretty as you please,

A rogue and 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.

Ring a ring a rosie

as the light declines,

I remember Dublin city

in the rare auld times.

The years have made me bitter,

the gargle dims me brain

For 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.

Ring a ring a rosie

as the light declines,

I remember Dublin city

in the rare auld times.

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey,

I can no longer stay,

And watch the new glass cages,

spring up along the quay,

My mind's too full of memories,

to old to hear new chimes,

I'm a part of what was Dublin,

in the Rare Auld Times.

Ring a ring a rosie

as the light declines,

I remember Dublin city

in the rare auld times.

Ring a ring a rosie

as the light declines,

I remember Dublin city

in the rare auld times