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Portland Town

[Derroll Adams]

Derroll Adams wrote Portland Town in 1957 in remembrance of the Korean War. He sang it in 1967 as the title track of his Decca album Portland Town, and in 1983 on the anthology Songs for Peace.

Danish duo Cy & Maia recorded Portland Town in 1965 for a single on the Sonet label. By mistake, they credited John Stuart as the author. (Thanks to Holger Terp of the Danish Peace Academy for telling me about this single.)

The American singing group, The Pennywhistlers sang Portland Town in 1966 on their Bounty/Nonesuch album Folksongs of Eastern Europe.

The English Country Blues Band recorded Portland Town in 1982 for their first LP, No Rules. This track was also included in 2000 on their anthology Unruly.

Lady Maisery sang Portland Town in 2011 on their CD Weave & Spin. They commented in their liner notes:

A timeless anti-war song which Rowan [Rheingans] adapted, and originally learnt from her mum.

Lyrics

Lady Maisery sing Portland Town

I was born in Portland Town,
I was born in Portland Town
Yes I was, yes I was, yes I was.

I was married in Portland Town,
I was married in Portland Town
Yes I was, yes I was, yes I was.

I had children, one, two, three,
I had children, one, two, three.
Yes I did, yes I did, yes I did.

Jimmy and Johnny and Frank made three,
Jimmy and Johnny and Frank made three.
Yes they did, yes they did, yes they did.

Sent my children off to war,
Sent my children off to war.
Yes they did, yes they did, yes they did.

Killed my children, one, two, three.
Killed my children, one, two, three.
Yes they did, yes they did, yes they did.

Ain’t gonna have no kids no more,
Ain’t gonna have no kids no more.
No I ain’t, no I ain’t, no I ain’t.

I was born in Portland Town,
I was born in Portland Town
Yes I was, yes I was, yes I was.