G'day all,

I dug out my LP of The Young Tin Whistle Pest ... and this is how I hear the song:

Slaggy Island Farewell
Words & music © Vin Garbutt

Verse 1 (and Chorus) :
Oh, Slaggy Island; farewell, farewell to thee
Your pride has turned into decay.
All of your sons they have deserted you
And now you must return unto the clay.

Verse 2:
In just one century, you have lived and you have died
Your birth meant life to many men.
You thrived with Bolckow, Vaughan* and the engine of steel.
Now they have gone and you're alone again.
Chorus: So Slaggy Island, farewell …

Verse 3:
When I was young in … your streets I did laugh and play (sic)
In Coral, Connaught, Pearl Street too. †
Your walls, they sheltered me from the wind and the rain
But now, the hammer is all that's left for you.
Chorus: So Slaggy Island, farewell …

Verse 4:
Through two long world wars, you have seen many people pass away:
Now 'tis your turn to say goodbye
The social life you built, it will die with you,
When windowed mountains take the sun from your skies.
Chorus): So Slaggy Island, farewell …
‡ (Chorus x 2) :

* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorman_Long: "Dorman Long took over the concerns of Bell Brothers and Bolckow and Vaughan in the late 1920s." (Vin seems to pronounce the first name (~) "Bohkoh".)

† That's the way I hear the street names.

‡ I presume that rich-joy's Aussie source (and my good friends): The Fagans, have picked up the English folk club habit of beating the life out of any good chorus.

Vin only sings the final chorus once on my LP The Young Tin Whistle Pest!

Betsy: Were you after some information - or an image - from the record sleeve of The Young Tin Whistle Pest? I have mine, intact (so far ...).

Regars,

Bob