The Rare Ould Times
Flogging Molly Lyrics


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Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown
I got passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town
The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes
That once was part of Dublin in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times
Well we name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be
Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be
By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy
Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory

And I courted Peggy Dignam, as pretty as you please
A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel Liberties
I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal
When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims me brain
'Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same
The Pillar and the Met are gone, the Royal long since pulled down
As the grey unyielding concrete, makes a city of my town

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay
And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quay
My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes
I'm a part of what was Dublin, in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times





I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Overall Meaning

The Flogging Molly song "The Rare Ould Times" speaks of nostalgia for a Dublin that has now disappeared amidst the "grey unyielding concrete" of modernity. The lyrics are a lament for the once-beautiful city of Dublin, with its "hallowed halls and houses" and "haunting children's rhymes" that have been lost to time. The song calls to mind stories of heroes and glories that were once Dublin Town but are now just memories. The chorus "Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines, I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times" is a melancholic refrain that emphasizes the sense of loss and sadness for what has been lost.


The verse about Sean Dempsey is a specific reference to a real person from Dublin’s history, a man who was part of the Easter Rising of 1916. The song also touches upon themes of love and loss, with the singer mourning the loss of his love Peggy Dignam, taken away by a man with "skin as black as coal" to Birmingham. The song's narrator speaks of how the years have made him bitter and the alcohol has dulled his mind as Dublin continues to change, with old landmarks like The Pillar and The Met now gone. The final verse ends with a sad farewell to Dublin, with the singer admitting his mind is too full of memories to keep up with the new chimes, and that he is now just part of what once was Dublin in the rare ould times, a city long gone but still fondly remembered.


Line by Line Meaning

Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown
Growing up in Dublin, I was surrounded by stories of brave and legendary individuals.


I got passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town
I inherited a legacy of stories and triumphs that took place in Dublin's past.


The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes
Places of great importance and cherished memories from my childhood, alongside the songs and rhymes I learned as a kid.


That once was part of Dublin in the rare ould times
All of these things used to be common in Dublin, but they have since become a distant memory.


Well we name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be
I'm a true Dubliner, born and raised in the heart of the city.


Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be
I was born in a rough part of Dublin that has changed greatly since my childhood, when my childhood home was still standing.


By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy
I used to work as a cooper, making barrels, but I lost my job due to changing times and industrial progress.


Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory
My profession, like many other things in Dublin, has been lost to progress and the changing times.


And I courted Peggy Dignam, as pretty as you please
I was once in love with Peggy Dignam, who was a beautiful woman from the Liberties neighborhood.


A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel Liberties
Peggy came from a family of rebels and was a bit of a troublemaker herself, but still deeply faithful.


I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal
Peggy left me for a black student who came to Dublin to study, and whom she fell in love with.


When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul
When they left Dublin and went to Birmingham in England, it was like she took a piece of me with her, and I was never the same again.


The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims me brain
Years of hard living and drinking have taken a toll on me, and I've become jaded and resentful.


'Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same
Dublin is always changing, and it feels like everything that made the city special to me is slowly disappearing.


The Pillar and the Met are gone, the Royal long since pulled down
Iconic landmarks in Dublin, like the Nelson Pillar and the Royal Theatre, have been demolished and are now just memories.


As the grey unyielding concrete, makes a city of my town
Dublin is losing its charm and character as it becomes more and more modern, with dull and uninspiring concrete buildings taking the place of beloved landmarks.


Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay
I can't stay in Dublin any longer because it has changed too much, and it's not the city I remember.


And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quay
All of the new and shiny buildings along the Liffey river remind me how Dublin has lost its soul and character.


My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes
I have too many fond memories of Dublin, and I'm too set in my ways to appreciate the new things that the city has to offer.


I'm a part of what was Dublin, in the rare ould times
Although things have changed, I still carry with me the memories and traditions of the old Dublin.


Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines
This phrase is repeated throughout the song, suggesting that as the sun sets on Dublin, so too must the end of an era come to an end.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Pete St-John

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Rudeboy 13

Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown 
I got passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town 
The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes 
That once was part of Dublin in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Well we name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be 
Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be 
By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy 
Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory

And I courted Peggy Dignam, as pretty as you please 
A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel Liberties 
I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal 
When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims me brain 
'Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same 
The Pillar and the Met are gone, the Royal long since pulled down 
As the grey unyielding concrete, makes a city of my town

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay 
And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quay 
My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes 
I'm a part of what was Dublin, in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times



All comments from YouTube:

4exgold

love how the guys blend the old traditional start into their own unique style later on. Superb 🍀🍀🍀

Rudeboy 13

Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown 
I got passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town 
The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes 
That once was part of Dublin in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Well we name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be 
Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be 
By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy 
Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory

And I courted Peggy Dignam, as pretty as you please 
A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel Liberties 
I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal 
When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims me brain 
'Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same 
The Pillar and the Met are gone, the Royal long since pulled down 
As the grey unyielding concrete, makes a city of my town

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay 
And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quay 
My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes 
I'm a part of what was Dublin, in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Ring a ring a rosey, as the light declines 
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Jason S

I was the 7th like. I tell you that this song is like jesus crying over Jerusalem

Lu Ki

Thx

Thomas Collette

I challenge anyone to name a band that can channel joy and pain and whimsy and rage like Flogging Molly.

Trains and Music

I just got into this and I like it a lot . not one bit do I dislike it.

Lancaster Responding

Roller coaster Dude I suggest you listen to the entire Drunken Lullabies album and especially the Swagger album

Pat Malloy

The Drunken lullabies album is a solid album. Not a bad song on it

Jason S

I cry because of my dear irish friend that i would drink jack daniels with coca cola with. We would listen to irish drinking songs. We had love, we knew God

Victor Almeida

I demand Flogging Molly's version of Rocky Road to Dublin

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