The Town I Loved So Well
Johnny McEvoy Lyrics

In my memory, I will always see
I will never forget the town that I loved so well

Where our school played ball by the gas yard wall
The gas yard wall was where we played ball during school

And they laughed through the smoke and the smell
Despite the unpleasant smell, people enjoyed life and laughed

Going home in the rain, running up the dark lane
I vividly remember running home in the rain through the dark lane

Past the jail, and down behind the Fountain
The path home included passing the jail and the Fountain

Those were happy days in so many, many ways
We had many joyful experiences in the town I loved so well

In the early morning the shirt factory horn
The sound of the shirt factory horn marked the start of each day

Called women from Creggan, the moor, and the bog
Women from different areas of the town were summoned to work by the horn

While the men on the dole played a mother's role
Unemployed men were taking care of the children at home

Fed the children and then walked the dog
They were responsible for both feeding the kids and walking the family pet

And when times got tough there was just about enough
Although times were tough, the people had just enough to make ends meet

And they saw it through without complaining
They managed to get through difficult times without complaining

For deep inside was a burning pride
Despite their struggles, people still had a strong sense of pride for their town

In the town I loved so well
This sense of pride was due to the deep love they had for their town

There was music there in the Derry air
Music was an integral part of the town's culture

Like a language that we all could understand
The language of music was something that everyone in the town could relate to

I remember the day that I earned my first pay
I recall the day when I received my first paycheck

When I played in a small pick-up band
I played in a small music group with others from the town

There I spent my youth, and to tell you the truth
I spent my formative years in the town and can honestly say

I was sad to leave it all behind me
Leaving the town was a sad and difficult experience

For I learned about life, and I found a wife
Living in the town taught me many things and helped me find my life partner

But when I returned, how my eyes have burned
When I came back to the town, I was devastated by what I saw

To see how a town could be brought to it's knees
It was painful to see how the town had suffered and was no longer thriving

By the armored cars and the bombed-out bars
The town had endured violence and destruction from various sources

And the gas that hangs on to every breeze
The remnants of the gas that was produced in the town were still present in the air

Now the army's installed by that old gas yard wall
The army had taken over the area near the gas yard wall

And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
Barbed wire barriers continue to be erected and expanded

With their tanks and their guns, oh my god, what have they done
The presence of tanks and guns was shocking and concerning

To the town I loved so well
This destruction and violence was a terrible thing to happen to the town that I held dear

Now the music's gone but they carry on
Although music is no longer prevalent in the town, people continue on

For their spirits been bruised, never broken
While people have been traumatized, their resilience has not been completely destroyed

They will not forget but their hearts are set
People will always remember what happened, but they are focused on moving forward

On tomorrow and peace once again
The goal is to achieve peace and move on towards a better future

For what's done is done and what's won is won
Although things cannot be changed, past victories can still be celebrated

And what's lost is lost and gone for ever
However, some losses cannot be regained and must be mourned

I can only pray for a bright, brand new day
My hope is for a brighter and better future for the town that I love so well

In the town I love so well
Despite everything, this town will always hold a special place in my heart