The Rare Auld Times

[Chorus:]

Ring a ring a rosie

As the light declines

I remember Dublin City

In the rare old 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 Dublin city

In the rare old times

[Chorus:]

Ring a ring a rosie

As the light declines

I remember Dublin City

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:]

Ring a ring a rosie

As the light declines

I remember Dublin City

In the rare old times

[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:]

Ring a ring a rosie

As the light declines

I remember Dublin City

In the rare old times

[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 Dublim

In the rare old times

[Chorus: X2]

• Artist:Luke Kelly