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Old Portsmouth Town

The old houses crowd close together still
As if trying to keep warm
And the winds that blow through Old Portsmouth Town
Still rattle the sails of the boats in the storm

And the mill wheels turn and the wood fires burn
The tides they change twice a day right on time
And I hear the bell in the church steeple chime
Three and twice three again makes nine

Times have changed in Old Portsmouth Town
The old's been replaced by the new
And the dollar in your pocket comes from far away
And there's tracks in the snow from shiny New York shoes

The gray wooden working boats and the noisy old machines
Are fading fast to fiberglass and green flashing screens
The faces in the streetlamps and the hands that hold the beers
They're softer now, not weathered by the wind or the years

Times have changed in Old Portsmouth Town
The old's been replaced by the new

The sun goes to sleep on Old Portsmouth Town
A song from the tavern fills the street with the sound
There's window lights burning bright on a cold December morn
Working wakes us early but working keep us warm

Times have changed in Old Portsmouth Town
The old's been replaced by the new
Like the fog from the river the future settles down
The past is getting cloudy now fading out of view

FIRST VERSE

(© 1984 by Harvey Reid)


As recorded on #103 "The Coming of Winter"

As re-released on #127 "Songs From A Long Road"

See Harvey play this song 2

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