Author: John B. Keane
Cricklewood Cricklewood
You stole my youth away
I was young and innocent
You were old and grey
Come all you true born Irishmen and listen to my song
I am a bold buck navvy and I don’t know right from wrong
Of late I’ve been transported from Ireland’s holy shore
My case is sad my crime is bad I was born poor
If you are born poor me lads it is a shocking state
The judge will sit upon your crime and this he will relate
I find the prisoner guilty and the law I must lay down
Let him be transported straight away to Camden Town
Take him down to Cricklewood and leave him in the pub
Call the barman landlord then propose to him a sub
Leave him down in Cricklewood mid mortar bricks and lime
Let him rot in Cricklewood until the end of time.
More Info
I used to live in Moss Side Manchester sharing a room with Tony Grehan of Boyle who used to sing this song. Recorded it on my first album and discovered subsequently that it was written by John B.Keane,the late writer of Listowel