JennyO-

Oh, very nicely done! Now if you could add some little black specks for the poppy seeds, they would be a feast for Brooklyn exciles this wide-world over.

Oh, here's the version of "Across the Western Suburbs" that we worked up for Portland, Maine, a few years ago. We still get an opportunity to air it down on the waterfront:

New words by Charlie Ipcar - 1985
Adapted from Denis Kevans' & Seamus Gill's
Australian parody of "All for Me Grog" © 1973

Concrete and Glass

Oh, me name it is Fred,
In Portland born and bred,
And the Old Port used to be me home, boys
But 'tis caused me heart to grieve,
For I've had to take me leave,
Now across them western suburbs
        I must roam, boys!

Chorus:

In concrete and glass,
Portland's disappearing fast;
'Tis all gone for profit and for plunder;
Though we really want to stay,
They keep forcing us away,
Now across them western suburbs
        we must wander!

Now, where is me house,
Me old three-decker house?
'Tis all gone for profit and for plunder;
For the wreckers of the town
Just come up and knocked it down;
Now across them western suburbs
        we must wander! (CHO)

And where is me pub,
Me Irish Village Pub?
'Tis all gone for profit and for plunder;
Now when you walk in the door,
You'll find carpets on the floor,
And you'll have to wear a tie to
        get your beer, boys! (CHO)

And where is me port,
Me old working port?
'Tis all gone for profit and for plunder;
Now when you walk down the dock,
All ye'll hear is disco rock;
And ye'll have to dry ye nets
        in a laundromat, boys! (CHO)

Now, before the city's wrecked
Them developers must be decked;
For 'tis plain to see they do not give a bugger,
And if them bandits have their way
We soon shall see the day
That we'll all be driving in
        from Madawaska! (CHO)

"Madawaska" is a small town in northern Maine on the border with Canada, about 8 hours drive time from Portland.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble