Dirty Old Town chords

by The Pogues

  • Dirty Old Town was written by Ewan MacColl in 1949. This version features The Pogues - a Celtic punk band originating from London, England.
  • Key Signatures: D Major, G Major, C Major
  • Intro: D Major
  • Verses: G major
  • Instrumental: C Major
  • Time Signature: 4/4 time      Tempo: 123 bpm (♩)
  • Chords: D, G, C, Em, Am, F, Dm
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
C major G major D major Em Am Dm F major F major barre
C major G major D major Em Am Dm F major F major barre

Dirty Old Town

Starting Key is highlighted (The rest will follow on) - Transpose to any other starting key
              D                 G         D        Em         D
Intro: |𝄽𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥|     | 𝄎 | 𝄎 | 𝄎 |     | 𝄎 |     | 𝄎 |     | 𝄎 |     |
    (harmonica)                                                (I met my)
            G
1. I met my love by the gas works wall
               C                   G
   Dreamed the dream by the old ca-nal
               G
   I kissed my girl by the fact-’ry wall
              D                   Em
   Dir-ty old town     Dir-ty old town

              G                          
2. Clouds are drift-ing a-cross the moon
            C                  G 
   Cats are prow-ling on their beat
              G
   Spring's a girl round the street at night
              D                   Em
   Dir-ty old town     Dir-ty old town   | (key change - violin)  |

          C                       F           C
Instr: |     |  𝄎  |  𝄎  |  𝄎  |     |  𝄎  |     |  𝄎  |

          C                      Dm          Am
       |     |  𝄎  |  𝄎  |  𝄎  |     |  𝄎  |     |  𝄎  |
                                                     (I heard a...)
             G
3. I heard a si-ren from the docks
         C                      G 
   Saw a train set the night on fire
                 G
   I smelled the spring on the smok-ey wind
              D                   Em
   Dir-ty old town     Dir-ty old town

              G
4. I'm gon-na make me a big sharp axe
             C                     G
   Shin-ing steel temp-ered in the fire
                 G
   I’ll chop you down like an old dead tree
              D                   Em
   Dir-ty old town     Dir-ty old town

            G
5. I met my love by the gas works wall
             C                   G 
   Dreamed a dream by the old ca-nal
               G
   I kissed my girl by the fact-’ry wall
              D                   Em
   Dir-ty old town     Dir-ty old town
              D                   Em
   Dir-ty old town     Dir-ty old town...

The Pogues

The Pogues

Origin: Kings Cross, London, England

Active Years: 1982–96, 2001–present

Music Styles: Celtic punk, folk punk

The band has had a colorful history with success, break-ups, re-unions and continued success.

🌍 thepogues.com

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