The Old Town Clock

We have a place called Draperstown,
The centre of trade for all around,
With a good wide street and a Hall at the top,
But the principle thing is the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

Its face is was set for Tonagh hill,
And seems to be looking the same way still,
For trade comes in from a place called ‘the top’,
And everyone likes the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock

From Craig-na-shoke a few come in,
To barter and trade and keep up the din,
From Slievgallion too, though it is some walk,
But all like to see the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

From Sperrin too, by the Sperrin way,
A few come in on a market day,
For all do trade in the many wee shops,
And take an interest in the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

But it is to the fair that the most come in,
Cattle and sheep keep up the din,
And pigs in trailers away by the top,
Near to the Hall and the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

But many have quitted this little town,
Since the clock was first brought to the ground,
Their names and their numbers make me sick,
Since the clock at the Hall gave its first tick,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

The train with its engine came and went,
By its whistle oft the air was rent,
It was traffic on roads which made it stop,
Regardless of the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

The churches have emptied and the yards have been filled,
And many a kindly heart was stilled,
Nothing at all cold death could stop,
Though on went the tick of the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

At the clock at the Hall, have often stared,
But how long do you think may be spared,
To walk round the town and gaze at the shops,
‘Ere I bid farewell to the old town clock,
The clock of the town, the old town clock.

The donkey and horse are off the street,
It’s seldom now that their likes you meet,
But tractors and trailers, lorries and cars bring all things now from afar,
Those changes give me a kind of shock,
But on goes the tick of the old town clock.