Phil Lynott - Old Town
: The Story Behind a Dublin Classic
Phil Lynott will always be remembered as the charismatic frontman of Thin Lizzy, but he also had a successful solo career away from the band. One of his best-loved songs, Old Town
, was released in 1982 and showed a different side to the Dublin rocker. With its catchy piano melody, heartfelt lyrics and famous Dublin music video, it's a song that has only grown in popularity over the years.
New Direction
By the early 1980s, Phil Lynott was keen to try something different from the hard rock sound that had made Thin Lizzy famous. He had developed an interest in pop and new-wave music, but much of this material was considered too soft or commercial for the band's heavy rock image. His solo career gave him the freedom to experiment, and Old Town
was a perfect example of that change in direction.
The Origins
For Old Town
, Lynott teamed up with his close friend Jimmy Bain, the Scottish bassist who had previously played with Rainbow and Wild Horses. The pair wrote the music and lyrics together, creating a song that mixed a catchy pop melody with the bittersweet feeling of a broken relationship. There was something autobiographical about it too, with Lynott drawing on the sort of romantic heartbreak that had often inspired his songwriting.
The Lyrics
At its heart, Old Town
is a song about trying to move on after a relationship has fallen apart. Lynott sings about a former lover who has left him feeling rejected, hurt and a little sorry for himself. There's a sense that he's wandering around familiar streets, surrounded by places that remind him of happier times. It's a simple enough story, but that's part of what makes the song so relatable.
What makes the lyrics particularly interesting is the contrast between Lynott's sadness and his determination to carry on. He's clearly struggling with the breakup, but there's also a stubborn streak running through the song, as though he's trying to convince himself that everything will be alright. The familiar old town becomes a reminder of what he's lost, while also offering the possibility of a fresh start.
The Video
The music video for Old Town
has become almost as famous as the song itself, although it was made on a shoestring budget. With little money available for a conventional promotional video, producer Dave Heffernan and director Gerry Gregg put together a clip filmed around Dublin for RTÉ's youth television programme Anything Goes
. It premiered in October 1982, giving Irish viewers a chance to see Lynott performing against the backdrop of his hometown.
The video features several well-known Dublin landmarks, including the Ha'penny Bridge, Grafton Street and the streets around the city centre. One of its most memorable moments shows Lynott walking across the Ha'penny Bridge, looking every inch the Dublin character. Rather than relying on expensive sets or special effects, the video captures the everyday atmosphere of the capital, making it a wonderful snapshot of Dublin in the early 1980s.
The Legacy
Old Town
was only a minor hit when it was first released, but its reputation has grown considerably since Lynott's death in 1986. Over the years, it has become one of his most recognisable solo songs and something of an unofficial Dublin anthem. Its popularity was helped by a memorable cover from The Corrs, introducing the song to another generation of listeners. Today, it remains a firm favourite on Irish radio and a reminder of Lynott's love for his hometown.
Final Verdict
Old Town
might not have been Phil Lynott's biggest hit, but it's certainly one of his most enduring songs. Away from the roaring guitars of Thin Lizzy, it showed that he could write a great pop tune without losing his personality or storytelling ability. Add in that wonderfully nostalgic Dublin video, and you've got a song that feels just as much a part of the city as the Ha'penny Bridge itself.
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