There are many finely crafted songs and complete records that have been written about cities and towns, both specific to a particular community and in general. Some may note the dynamic vibrancy of the city, such as “New York, New York” (Frank Sinatra) or “Galveston,” (Glen Campbell), its romanticism such as “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (Tony Bennett), or perhaps the city’s economic distress like “Allentown” (Billy Joel). One of the more recent examples is the superb album entitled The Suburbs by Canada’s alternative/indie band, Arcade Fire that won the Grammy for album of the year in 2011.

However, to this blogger, no song heard to date about a city seems to capture the loss of a city’s innocence as it transitions from a regional or national center of commerce to a world-class city as the song “Dublin In the Rare Old (or Ould) Times.” Below are lyrics to this classic by Pete St. John. One can easily picture his thoughts while reading the lyrics and/or hearing the song being performed. It is really quite heartbreaking – an ode to love lost – both personal and communal. The song also begs the question, ‘Is demolishing a community’s past truly ‘progress?’ I would tend to say that in most cases, no, it is not progress. Instead, it is all too often an unfortunate step in the wrong direction.

The Rare Ould Times

Pete St. John

“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 childrens rhymes

That once was Dublin City in the rare ould times Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines

I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times