Hiya Gary - Gasworks Croft is an easy one. A croft in this sense of the word is a bit of urban wasteland - Imagine old demolished building re-claimed by nature; full of Rose-Bay willow herb, dock, dandelion, old bricks etc. and you have a croft. Unlike the Scotish or Irish crofts which are 'small-holdings'. I guess the words have the same roots though.

The gasworks is where the coal gas for lighting/heating/cooking etc. was manufactured by heating coal until it gave off the gas to be stored in the Gasometers - which are the remaining bits! The other by-product was coke - coal with the combustible gases extracted. Dunno the full implications but it was used in other industries. So - Gasworks croft - bit of waste land at the side of the gasworks!

Springs a girl etc. Bit more difficult. Clever play on words by McColl??? A girl springs from nowhere? Spring is like a girl? I guess some 'McCollogists' in the cafe will know:-)

You need to know Salford, in particular 'Hanky (Hankinson)Park' to realy get into what McColl was trying to put across but his song is still a pretty good description of old Salford.

Try watching the 1961 film "A taste of honey" for a feel for Salford in the late 50's/early 60's. As well as being, IMO, a classic northern-gritty drama, a lot of it was filmed on location in Salford. For earlier history "Hobsons Choice" would be a goodread. Lowry's paintings give a good view as well and to round off the picture check out Salfords web site here to see how (again in my opinion) the council is now bugering things up!

Enjoy anyway and if you want answers to specific questions please fire away.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome