I found my love by the gasworks' cry
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed my girl by the fact'ry wall
Dirty old town, you dirty old town

I heard a siren from the dock
Saw a train set the night on fire
Smelled the spring in the smokey wind
Dirty old town, you dirty old town

Clouds are drifting across the moon
Cats are prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl in the streets at night
Dirty old town, you dirty old town

I'm going to make me a good sharp axe
Shining steel, tempered in the fire
We chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town, you dirty old town

(repeat first verse)