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DIRTY  OLD  TOWN

Time signature:  4/4
Ewan MacColl
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:  Everything needs to be checked

Accordion Notation
Return to BA5 - Unit 3
Beats per bar =  4
Beat symbol  =   Dot ( . ) or equivalent   
​   
Either row (high) =  Buttons  5 to 9*
Inside row (low)  =  Buttons  2 to 5*
Verse 1 (of 4)

.5    .5*     .6   |   ::7~ | ~.    "7*  "6     .7     .6      |   ::5~ | ~:
.2   .o3*    .3   |   ::4~ | ~.    "3*  "3     .4     .3      |   ::2~ | ~:
 I  found  my     love___     by  the  gas-works    wall__

       .7       .8   |   ::9*~ | ~.    "8   "7     .7*   .6   |   ::7~ | ~:
       .4       .5   |   ::5*~ | ~.    "5   "4     .3*   .3   |   ::4~ | ~:
Dreamed   a      dream__    by   the  old   ca -    nal___

    .9*      .8   |   ::7~ | ~.   "7*  "6     .7    .6   |   ::5~ | ~:
    .5*      .5   |   ::4~ | ~.   "3*  "3     .4    .3   |   ::2~ | ~:
Kissed  my      girl___    by  the  fact- 'ry      wall___

 "5*   "6   .7   |   ::7*~ | ~:    "7*  "6    .5*    |    ::5*~  | ~.
​
"o3*  "3   .4   |   ::3*~ | ~:    "3*  "3   .o3*   |   ::o3*~ | ~.
 Dir - ty   old     town___,   dir - ty   old        town___


Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Total of 15 videos in various keys:    C=3    Db=1    D,E=1    Eb=1   E=2    F=1    G=6

Key:   Eb

Singers:  Ewan MacColl (the composer),
               and (wife) Peggy Seeger


Posted by:  Gypsy Jazzist

MacColl (stage name) was born as James Henry Miller in Salford (Lancashine), England.  He grew up to become a folk singer, songwriter, actor, poet, playwright and record producer.  His parents were Scottish.  The song is about Salford.

Key:  G   (for singing)

Group:  The Pogues
​
Singer:  Shane MacGowan

​Posted by:  ​stanstead1ja

While the singing is in the key of G, the interlude is in the key of C.

Key:   G

Singer:  Jimmy Tarrant

Accordionist:  Rowena Turner

​Posted by:  Mainland Kitchen Band

Originally from Lawn and
                        Little St. Lawerance

Currently located in Cambridge

​While the singing is in the key of G, the interlude (after verse 3) is in the key of C.

Key:  E

Group:  The Spinners

​Posted by: belfast jack

Key:  Db

Singer:  Esther Ofarim

​Posted by:  Thecharityshop

Key:  G

Group:   The Dubliners

Posted by:  The Dubliners 
​

Key:  C

Group:  Berlin Pop Choir

​Posted by:  Berlin Pop Choir

​Performed on St. Patrick's day 2015 at Monster Ronsons.

Key:  D  from time 0 to 1:40
         E   from  1:41 to End

Singer:  Roger Whittaker

Posted by: river2walk



Key:  G

Singer:  Luke Kelly

​Posted by:  crombadabombom

Key:  G

Group:  The Kilkennys

​Posted by:  Jeannine Retzlik

Key:  F    from time 0 to 2:33
         Bb  from 2:34 to end 

Group:  The High Kings 

Posted by:  Carol Billett


Key:  C

Accordion player:  ?  

​Posted by:  Jesuiscurieux

Very impressive after less than a year of playing the button (diatonic) accordion.

The accordion appears to be a "little" Bernard Loffet (French, Brittany), with semi-swing tuning.


Key:  E

Singer:  Donovan

Posted by:  Omar Varaza

Donovan seems to be following a music sheet that is slightly different from that given for the accordion notation above - not quite as melancholic.


Key:  C

Accordionist:   Hector Awol

Posted by:  Hector Awol

Hector is a well-known Australian player,
using a Busilacchio button accordion.
​Posted in 2010.

Key:  G

Accordion player:  Joe Hynes?

​Singer & Guitarist:  ?

​Posted by:  Joe Hynes

Great job.
 
Background Materials, Information & Links

​Lyrics:

I found my love where the gasworks wall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
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
Springs a girl in the streets at 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 on the smoky wind
Dirty old town, dirty old town

I'm going to make a good sharp ax
Shining steel tempered in the fire
We'll chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town, dirty old town
Go to Top of Page
Return to BA5 - Unit 3
Background Links:
Click HERE for additional info about this song.

Click HERE  for (wikipedia) biographical info on Ewan MacColl