Hi all

I sang this song when I lived in Sydney back in the late 70s. It was on an LP by 'The Men of No Property'. The words as printed on the sleeve notes were as follows

LEAVING BELFAST TOWN
Words: McIlvogue
Air: "The Hero"

I have lived me life in Belfast town
And oft times I've asked why,
That evil men and orders
Were allowed to bleed us dry.
Born in a dirty tenement,
In a district falling down,
And I tell you John I've often longed
To leave ould Belfast town.

Belfast's a northern city
Where decent men are few,
Where drums and flags have hid the eyes
Of working men it's true,
Where democracy means hypocrisy,
And corruption does abound,
And I tell you John I've often longed
To leave ould Belfast town.

Ah, well now, John, you've been and gone,
All round this world to see,
And have you found a country
Where a poor man might be free,
Where there are no greedy landlords,
Or forces of the crown,
Oh! Tell me John, and I'll be gone,
Far from ould Belfast town.

They have filled the minds with poison,
And I fear it is too late,
To wash those walls of hatred
And the words that speak of hate,
All freedom has been banished
And honest men put down,
And I tell you John, I've oft times longed
To leave ould Belfast town.

There's barricades and burning now,
And gunmen walk the street,
There's CS gas from England
That the hungry kids can eat,
Our town's an old sandcastle
And the waves begin to pound,
And I tell you John, I've often longed
To leave ould Belfast town.

There is a sound sample of the music HERE

Fergus