United Colours of Cumnock
My town, is a green town
(but no like a “fuck the Queen” town),
no, it’s a tree in every scene town,
wae gairdens freshly dug.
That’s green that pours from every crack,
through pavements, viaducts, fitba parks,
where men who suffer heart attacks, go walks
wae three leg dugs.
My town, is a blue town
a “who the fuck are you” town,
what school did you go to town
and are you one of us?
That’s blue that seeps through doors and walls,
from pubs and bookies, village halls,
where men would guard old Derry’s walls,
instead of guardin us.
My town was once a red town,
another miner dead town,
a men who fought and bled town,
wae brave and stalwart wives.
That’s red that came from meeting rooms,
from folk that worked the pumps and looms,
when borough bands played different tunes,
and marched – for better lives.
But now my town’s a grey town,
a fifty mils a day town,
a watch life slip away town,
a tunnel wae nae light.
That’s grey that weeps from dying eyes,
bewildered parents, children’s cries,
wae skinny erms and stick like thighs,
and nae strength left – tae fight!
Jim Monaghan
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