Just found this in an old thread. Never know I had it on me :-)

Friday night. Nowt on telly. Not going out coz I'm up at 6:15 tomorrow so I got to thinking about what I just writtid and decided to update Mr MacColls song, So, with apologies to Ewan -

New old town. Dave Polshaw. 18 Aprl 2008.

I met my love, by the open fields
Dreamed a dream, by the concrete quays
Kissed my girl, by the retail park
Dirty old town
Where's that dirty old town?

I heard a concert, where the docks once were
Saw the neon, set the night on fire
Smelt the spring, on the sterile wind
Dirty old town
What dirty old town?

Clouds still drift, across the moon
Cats still prowl, along their beat
But girls don't go, out alone at night
Dirty old town
Dangerous old town

The planners took, a good sharp axe
Made of steel, but not made here
Cut the heart, from the living tree
Dirty old town
They cut it down.

Feel free to use, abuse or amend accordingly, just give me and Salford a mention if you do:-) I suspect it is true of lots of towns that had their 'clearances' in the 60's. They got rid of a lot of awful stuff, but sometimes I can't help but wonder if they threw out the baby with the bath water.

Oh - BTW - I did hear a concert where the docks once were only last week. Jethro Tull 40th Anniversary tour at the Lowry's Lyric theatre. Funny to think that when Ian Anderson was first standing on one leg, the docks, the factories and the slums in 'Hanky Park' were all still there:-)

Cheers

Dave

Hope this is of general interest and doesn't end up in the basement :-)

MP