Oretown - The Pogues

The night stank of diesel

And a stranger came to town

A cold wind blowing

And the rain pouring down

Street lights flicker

And the power lines moan

The moon beat down

On a river of bone

Someone put the lights out

No one make a sound

You won’t find a thing

Down in Oretown

Foundry spits fire and smoke

Air’s foul and choking

Sky full of sulphur

Mountains flat and broken

Black fogs and whirlwinds

Thunder and rain

Open drink madness

And purple mad pain

The circus is over

Exit the clowns

Nobody’s laughing

Down in Oretown

The ship’s in the harbour

Cargo’s been pawned

Barrooms spilling sailors

All shipwrecked at dawn

Smelling of salt and rust

Uniforms torn

Came looking for flowers

Only found thorns

Dreaming of mermaids

In pearly white gowns

tain is sleeping

Down in Oretown

There’s a madman down on mainstreet

Eyes all aflame

Laughing in the thunder

Of the Number 9 train

Selling old postcards in rusty frames

A thousand views of Oretown