A Salvation Army band played 
And the children drank lemonade
And the morning lasted all day, 
All day 
And through an open window came 
Like Sinatra in a younger day, 
Pushing the town away
Ah

Ah hey ma ma ma 
Life in a northern town. 

They sat on the stoney ground 
And he took a cigarette out
And everyone else came down 
To listen. 
He said "In winter 1963 
It felt like the world would freeze 
With John F. Kennedy
And the Beatles.

Ah hey ma ma ma 
Life in a northern town.
Ah hey ma ma ma 
All the work shut down.  

The evening had turned to rain 
Watch the water roll down the drain, 
As we followed him down 
To the station 
And though he never would wave goodbye, 
You could see it written in his eyes 
As the train rolled out of sight 
Bye-bye.  

Ah hey ma ma ma 
Life in a northern town. 
Ah hey ma ma ma 
Life in a northern town.