Belfast Mill
Renaud Lyrics

In Renaud's song Belfast Mill, the singer describes the decline of the industrial city of Belfast and the struggles of its working-class citizens in the aftermath of the closure of the Belfast Mill, a large factory once situated in the east side of the city. The song begins with a description of the factory's iconic chimney on the foot of the hill, which now stands idle since the factory has closed down permanently. The chorus laments the sound of the wind that blows through the city, replacing the familiar noise of the factory machines, and the loss of the children playing on the streets, signifying the bleak future for the youth of the town.

In the second verse, the singer exposes his personal experience of losing his job and identity as a worker, alongside many of his friends who have been let go due to the factory's closure. As a result, he faces an uncertain future without work, too young to retire and too old to start over, left to ponder his destiny amid the desolation that surrounds him. The song ends the same way it began, with the lonely wind blowing through the city, hauntingly echoing the melancholic melody of the Belfast Mill, marking the quiet end of an era.

Overall, the song highlights the destructive impact of deindustrialization on working-class communities and their lives that are heavily tied to the factory and the sense of identity as a worker.