| D | D | D | D |
| G | G | D | D |
| Em | Em | Bm | Bm
[Verse 1] (key change)
G
I met my love by the gas works wall
C G
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
G
I kissed my girl by the factory wall
D Em
Dirty old town, dirty old town
[Verse 2]
G
Clouds are drifting across the moon
C G
Cats are prowling on their beat
G
Springs a girl from the streets at night
D Em
Dirty old town, dirty old town
[Instrumental] (key change)
| C | C | C | C |
| F | F | C | C |
| C | C | C | C |
| G | G | Am | Am
[Verse 3] (key change)
G
I heard a siren from the docks
C G
Saw a train set the night on fire
G
I smelled the spring on the smoky wind
D Em
Dirty old town, dirty old town
[Verse 4]
G
I'm gonna make me a big sharp axe
C G
Shining steel tempered in the fire
G
I'll chop you down like an old dead tree
D Em
Dirty old town, dirty old town
[Verse 5]
G
I met my love by the gas works wall
C G
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
G
I kissed my girl by the factory wall
Am Em
Dirty old town, dirty old town
D Em
Dirty old town, dirty old town
