Memories of times long past Memories that seem to last One thing I remember, it was special to me Is the hideout known as The Loose Tooth Tree.
It was in a hedge where many trees did grow It looked nothing special if you didn’t know But for me and my pals it was something just ours where we could escape for hours and hours.
It was completely covered with dark green ivy Though the roots were loose, making it quite shaky But once inside you were impossible to see Ideal for a hideout we named the Loose Tooth Tree.
Though you could see out cross the fields everywhere If you were quiet no one knew you were there. Keeping it secret was just half the fun An oath of secrecy was sworn by everyone.
Bits and bobs from everywhere made it our own A great place to be, with the gang or alone Jokes and stories were told, there was great laughter And yes we discussed girls, and the ones we were after.
We had blackjacks, fruitsalads and bullseyes too Time bars and curly wurlys that took ages to chew A place to relax where there was no sense of hurry We were so young sure we didn’t have a worry
We used it for cowboys and indians, hide and seek The rare risqué mag there did we peek Indeed it is where I tried my first smoke When my pals were convinced I was going to choke.
We ambushed the boys from Clongowes when they came to town Yes us boys from the Terrace gained some renown It was all good clean fun, just fisticuffs back then And didn’t it help us all on our journey from boys to men
We were Smiths and Nevins, Murphys and Callans Dorans and Behans, Delaneys and Ryans All from St Brigids and so proud of the fact “No outsiders allowed” was a part of the pact
We had bags of crisps that cost only two pence Wore platform shoes so high they didn’t make sense Flared collars so wide we were in danger of flight We had hair so long it often interfered with sight.
We listened to the Osmonds, the Monkees and Status Quo We loved Abba and Gary Glitter (how were we to know) We loved the Waltons, Top Cat and the Flintstones, yabadabadoo Little House on the Prairie, Shirley Temple, and the Little Rascals too
Yes The Loose Tooth Tree belonged to St. Brigid’s Terrace But as more houses went up other kids proved a menace Two bits of wood and a nail, we all had a sword to fight and peg guns proved effective if the aim was right.
We decided to make up a language all of our own What we were saying others had no way of knowing Not parents nor priests, not teachers or anyone And we had such mighty craic, it was so much fun.
It was an innocent time, we were all boys growing Our lives were changing without us really knowing In the Loose Tooth Tree we were all good friends together Making memories that would stay with each of us forever
It was during the seventies in my home town of Clane Upon leaving ‘twas two decades ‘til I saw it again To my dismay the Loose Tooth Tree was no more But it will live on in my memory for evermore.