The Town I Loved So Well Lyrics
Phil CoulterMusic Video
The Town I Loved So Well
In my memory I will always see
The town that I have loved so well
Where our school played ball by the gas-yard wall
And we laughed through the smoke and the smell
Going home in the rain, running up the dark lane
Past the jail and down behind the fountain
Those were happy days in so many, many ways
In the town I loved so well
In the early morning the shirt factory horn
Called women from Creggan, the Moor and the Bog
While the men on the dole played a mother's role,
Fed the children and then walked the dogs
And when times got tough there was just about enough
But they saw it through without complaining
For deep inside was a burning pride
In the town I loved so well
There was music there in the Derry air
Like a language that we all could understand
I remember the day that I earned my first pay
When I played in a small pick-up band
There I spent my youth and to tell you the truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
For I learned about life and I'd found a wife
In the town I loved so well
But when I returned how my eyes have burned
To see how a town could be brought to its knees
By the armoured cars and the bombed out bars
And the gas that hangs on to every breeze
Now the army's installed by that old gasyard wall
And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
With their tanks and their guns, oh my God, what have they done
To the town I loved so well
Now the music's gone but they carry on
For their spirit's been bruised, never broken
They will not forget but their hearts are set
On tomorrow and peace once again
For what's done is done and what's won is won
And what's lost is lost and gone forever
I can only pray for a bright, brand new day
In the town I loved so well
Song Details
Derry, Northern Ireland
🎶 Songwriter: Phil Coulter
Born: Philip Coulter on the 19th February, 1942
Music Styles: Traditional Irish, Folk, Pop
Occupations: Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer
Instruments: Vocals, piano
Active Years: 1967 - present
📝 Song Brief: The song is about Phil's childhood growing up in Derry, Northern Ireland where he was born - its beauty in simplicity and the sadness he felt when he left to pursue his career. Towards the end of the song, he relates the despair he felt when returning to his beloved town during the Troubles in Northern Ireland - to find it converted to a military outpost surrounded with barb-wire, guns and tanks and some of his favourite places in ruins - all so beautifully described by the line "Oh my God, what have they done".
📖 Glossary:- Creggan
A large residential area in Derry, located on the city’s west side. During the Troubles it became one of the most affected neighbourhoods, known for its strong community spirit as well as the heavy military presence that shaped daily life. - The Moor
Short for the Bogside and Creggan “Moor” area, a local term used by residents to describe the high ground overlooking Derry. It is closely associated with working‑class families, community identity, and many key events of the Troubles. - The Bog (Bogside)
A historic neighbourhood in Derry, lying just outside the old city walls. The Bogside is known for its close‑knit community, its murals, and its central role during the Troubles, including the civil rights marches and the events of Bloody Sunday. - Gas‑yard Wall
A well‑known landmark in Derry, originally part of the city’s old gasworks. For many locals it became a familiar point of reference — a place children passed on their way to school or home, and later a backdrop to the tensions and military activity of the Troubles. - The Troubles
A period of conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. It involved political, national, and community divisions, with widespread violence, military presence, and deep social impact. In the song, the Troubles represent the transformation of a once‑peaceful childhood landscape into a place marked by fear and loss. - Derry
A historic city in Northern Ireland, also known as Londonderry. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on the island and has a rich cultural and musical heritage. For Phil Coulter, Derry is both the joyful setting of his childhood and the wounded city he returned to during the Troubles — the emotional heart of the song.
🎻 Genre: Folk
👥 Covers: The Dubliners, The High Kings, Pierre Bensusan, Paddy Reilly, and The Irish Tenors.
🎤 Featured Artist: Phil Coulter
💿 Album The Songs I Love So Well
Released: 2000
Country: UK
Format: CD
Label: Four Seasons Music
🎸 If you'd like to play this song on guitar, you can view the chord version on our sister site, Bell & Co Music.
