I met my love by the gas works hall
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 in the streets of night
Dirty old town, dirty old town

I heard a siren from the docks
Saw a train set the night on fire
Smelled the spring in the smokey wind
Dirty old town, dirty old town

I'm going to make a good sharp axe
Shining steel, tempered in the fire
We'll chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town, dirty old town

I met my love by the gas works hall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town, dirty old town
Dirty old town, dirty old town

(c) Ewan McColl