Born And Raised In Lowell (A song about Lowell, MA) 

Love the song! I was born and very proud to be raised in Lowell! My dad and I picked Ding Ding up to get him warm during the winters. He was actually a hell of a fighter growing up! Great guy when people didn’t piss him off! ❤

I've read all the comments and I love that so many people can relate to the lyrics of a song I wrote. Memories of my youth mean a lot to me and it only makes them more meaningful to know that so many of you have the same type of memories. Thanks for listening!

Wow - I'm 72 and haven't lived in Lowell since I was 24. I am sobbing - THANK YOU so much, such a great tribute I will cherish always.

I haven't had the time to respond to all the comments but I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for taking the time to view the video. I'm glad that the majority of you like the song and it makes me feel good to know that I share the same memories as many of you. Growing up in Lowell was in the old days was a lot of fun. Thanks for all the nice comments.

Oh my goodness, this made me cry! I had to move away (parents, you know) when I was 15, but Lowell is and always will be close to my heart. Great song and great memories (Ding Ding!! Holy moly). Thank you. :)

Made me happy and broke my heart.

Been living in Lowell for 13 years now and this song reminds me to cherish this place even though currently it's at it's worse but hey it's home 🍻

Ran across this video today. Got a little choked up over my old stomping grounds. Thanks for this video and great song to remind me that Cote's had the best beans and Espresso had the greatest pizza. My knee is still not the same after a night at the Hi-Hat. Thanks again....life was good in Lowell. RIP Tommy "Ding Ding" Ellis.

Wow - just found this. I lived in Pawtucketville and the Highlands, played baseball in Callery Park, walked to LHS from the Highlands often. Fished under the dam, worked at Demoulas and Gary's Ice Cream. Never thought I'd miss the place once I left for college. Memories are so hazy now - LHS class of 85. Regret yelling "ding ding" to that confused old soul.

Michael, This is perfect! I grew up in Lowell and left in 1974 after graduating from Lowell Tech. Couldn't get out of there fast enough. Now, I drive back every week (90 miles round trip) to watch the River Hawks play hockey and for music in the summer. "We love the place we hate, then hate the place we love. We leave the place we love and spend a lifetime trying to regain it. Do you remember? Can you ever forget?" - Terence Davies from the film "Of Time and the City" Great shots from my old neighborhood in the Highlands, especially Couple Square and the Peerless Diner. Tony & Ann's when it was on Princeton Blvd? Keep up the great work! Do you ever perform live? Bob

Love this, my eyes are watering and I remember so much more because of the slides and the words. Thank you for letting me remember again

Great job capturing Lowell in the lyris... As a young teen, I remember teasing "Ding-Ding" -- A little punchy from his early days as a boxer, whenever he would hear someone shout "ding-ding' he would start shadow boxing... Wow! The memories of hanging out at the Rialto and the High Hat -- What Fun we had... Thanks for honoring Lowell..........

It brought back so many memories. And DING DING was like a landmark by the time clock and shoe shine shop. Hoppin cars in the winter to get back up Christian Hill. I just wish I could find a few people from the past from up there. Mark , Claire , Rick, Brenda I miss you all.

Absolutely love this song and its lyrics, very insightful and at times powerful. "...there's nothing like a memory to make me wish that I was young...there's a poet in the window and he ain't telling any lies" . How often do we wish to go back to the carefree times of our youth, when it seemed nothing but fun mattered. As we got older responsibility, changes in our world, in our lives took that away. We lost it perhaps even surrendered it. Looking back we miss it, but the "poet in the window" reminds us those days are gone, that freedom is no more. The real beauty of this song is, having grown up in Lowell and still having so many friends now that I grew up with then, it is a treasure to be able to go back even if only in conversation and relive those simpler times and those beautiful memories.

i brings tears to my eyes i love this small city

Mr Noonan, I have listened to this song well over 500 times since you first released it on here and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. When working as a Civilian Contractor for the military, I was forced to move about 1000 miles away from Lowell. And everytime I found myself missing home, I’d always come right back to this song. I’m 24 years old, Lowell Born and Raised, brought up in the Acre and Highlands, and I’m damn proud of it

I was born in Saint John's Hospital now called LGH Saint's Campus and raised in Bishop Markham Village (South Common Projects). So many memories come flooding back as I watch this video. I remember many of the landmarks that were shown and many more that weren't. I remember the cobblestone roads that extended throughout most of the downtown area. The old drive in theater on Rt. 38 where Home Depot is now located in Tewksbury, the Lowell Flick, Rt 3 Cinema... The good old days :')

Lots of childhood memories, that was great!

Wow this is simply too cool, thanks guys, what memories this brought back!

Thank you so much! I'm a bit late finding this but what a great song! Brought tears to my eyes...absolutely fantastic!...Deb ( Petullo) Carroll

I grew in lowell untill I was 14 then my dad mad us move this song put tears in my eyes I miss lowell so much

OMG...Mr Harris you've outdone yourself with this incredibly fabulous song....this was sent to me 2 days ago and Ive listened to it about 30 times..sent it to my parents, were all in tears...I was born in Shaunessy terrace, cruised all the 5 and dimes, ate at eliots, went to the Molloy school.swam in the canals, everyone knew ford hill.....I will treasure this forever..I cant thank you enough!!!!

My dad was from Lowell and his dad owned Grady's Grille! I was born in Chelmsford, but love this video. So many memories.

So much better back then in Lowell if only we could go back in time to the better days?

Mike thank you for your song and thank you for posting this. Like the song says if you were born and raised in Lowell you know what the song is about. After 15 years living away in the Boston area I'm making plans to be back home right after the first of the year. It brings you back man

What an awesome song! Thank you for bringing back some great old memories. I lived on the corner of Bridge St and Shed st as a child for a few years and then my Dad relocated us to Dracut. Lowell was still my hang out. I remember drag racing on the Boulevard, working at Richards Auto Supply and Wang Labs, Spending many nights with friends on the roof top of the mills next to Akien St. Making out on Fort Hill with with a few girls one of which lived on Fenwick Terrace and I later married her. When the mill building by Akien St burned, I stood there and cried. I now reside deep in N,H, but Lowell will always be near and dear to me in my heart! Thank you again! Rob

Born and raised in Lowell, this is amazing, thank you for making this.

Born and raised in Mill City. My daughter's made it the 5th generation born and raised in my favorite City. This is Great.

Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Grew up in Pelham but Lowell was the place to be. It had everything. Was hoping to see a picture of the Lowell Drive-in. Spent many a night there. Great job putting this together. Thanks again!

This song brought tears to my moms eyes, she's in her early 50s and lives a town away. I live in this city now and when we drive through together she tells me about everything.

I can never here enough of these versions of this song. Still love it and can feel it in my heart. Memories are good as long as we still can move on. When I go through there. So much is changed. It is sad to see everything that made everyone who they are today. Gone. It is now other peoples memories to be. PS I remember the stairs and the house connected to the stairs. I no longer have the pics to show you. Does anyone?

My Dad was USAF and after he retired the family moved back to Lowell, where both he and my mother were born. So, not BORN in Lowell, but from the age of 12 onwards until I moved to Vermont at the age of 40 we lived in (South) Lowell. I graduated from LHS, went to ULowell, was married in Lowell and both of my kids were born there. So many memories. Thank you!

I lived here my whole life but I moved mid 2019 I love lowell

Great song !!! Awesome pics of Lowell … brings me back .

Excellent slideshow and song. Lowell has done an outstanding job preserving its historical buildings and culture; it's amazing how many of the places presented still exist to this day. I grew up in Chelmsford and lived in Lowell for 10 years. Every photo brings back memories, I even remember the lonely "homeless" staircase which remained untouched for many years.

I was Born And Raised In Lowell from 1947 till I came back from serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War, then moved to NH and now North Carolina.. Really miss it...Maybe I'll visit it again some day. Great song..

That was excellent. It brought back a LOT of memories.

Great tune wow so many memories I remember shaunessy terrace now there are condos there love this city grew up in bishop Marcum on Gorham St and still live in Lowell

Have not heard this song in a while. Sharing the hell out of it.

I remember that like it was yesterday. Very well done.

Awesome, I remember it all and loved the old stuff❤️👌

I did not grow up in Lowell, but I was fortunate enough to spend several Summers there as a teenager, with my extended family who did.. This brought back so many memories.. Roller skating at the Hi Hat.. eating pizza at Lowell House and George’s, buying a “tonic” at Acre News.. and playing on the Common until the lights went out.. Even jumped the fence and swam in the pool after hours once..(🤫🤐) Thank you for the wonderful memories.. 💙

Does anyone remember Mr. Hogan from the Daily Jr High school ? Born and raised highland boy from Robbins st . and I made so many memories in Lowell and always think back to high hat , couples square and all old friends meeting up in Zares parking lot downtown till the cops shut it down on the weekend ..! I seen this video on midnight Christmas 2023 cause I moved outta Lowell 6 years ago and I’m a little home sick ! Man so many good friends and the best times ! Zooky 71

Mike I was born in Lowell 57 years ago and left in 1966. I grew up in a very different place- Las Vegas. I love the song, the pictures and the comments. I still have cousins and an Aunt in the area. Thanks for the memories I never had.

Absolutely priceless. I was born and raised in Lowell.Watching the video brought a flood of memories. Memories of the Gas tank on School St., Strand Theater, Commodore, Hi-Hat, Garnicks, all of it. Wished to see the Giant Store, Kings and The Three Copper Men, Celtic Club, BC Restaurant, Ceasers, but there's only so much you can fit in. Funny, submarine races on the Blvd and parking on top of Fort Hill Park. I went to the Hugh J Malloy School, Principle Francis Moriarty. Video and lyrics hit home. Thanks for posting and a great job.

This Great video... evoked such beautiful memories.... A TREASURE...!

Absolutely Incredible! I was born in St Joseph's, grew up in Dracut just across the Bridge street bridge down 110 so spent most of my time there and in Lowell. The Commodore, the Lowell Sun, Santoros, shoot, almost everything in this song I remember. Went to the Strand as a young girl many times, worked in the Mills, laughed out-loud at the Submarine Races reference... spent many teenage hours there as well as at the drive in across from the races. I'm 60 now and living in Texas but my memories of Lowell are very intact and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for these images and memories.

Thank you for putting this together, it was AWESOME!! Brought back SO many memories!!

I know this is late but it just showed up on my playlist. I was born in Lowell General, grew up in North Chelmsford and moved to Lowell in my late teens. Lived there on and off for many years until I moved out to North Central Mass. I remember every single place and person you mention, Ding Ding once jumped out of a doorway and punched my brother when we were walking downtown and I was pushed by Depot Annie in Woolworths, lol. So many memories, hanging out at the Old Worthern when a pitcher of beer was a quarter or fifty cents, going up to Fort Hill and the submarine races on the boulevard, so many places and so many memories! Thank you for this, I love living where I am but fondly remember Lowell, it's people and places.

It really was awesome growing in lowell !

Was there... done that ;) I can watch this time after time and it still brings tears to my eyes.

Amazing! Kudos to everyone involved in this masterpiece!

I love that song with the footage. I grew up there but left when I was 23. Thank You for the memories..

A Great gathering of memories Michael! Great to see you too had fun even after the '50s where we knew 'cowboys and Indians' lurked in Parker's Pasture or around Hale's Brook (now "under" The Connector) where we hunted with our trusty Red Ryder rifles or went skinny dipping off the RR bridge or ice skating within the shadow of the Harvard Brewery (would that have been a "craft beer" today?). Down the road beyond the Stairs to Heaven, who didn't go at Christmas time to sing carols at 'The Poor Farm'. Eh! didn'tcha ever pedal a one-speed, steel bike to Concord on Patriot's Day with nothing more than a PB&J&Fluff and bag of Wise potato chips or to the big train wreck by 6 Arch Bridge. Didja evaah notice that just about everything in LowellLand was "two" miles away? Kids then "Social Networked" face to face e.g. after school in the Square at e.g. the Dutch Tea Room mothered-over by the Peacock Lady with her bouffant hairdo while cradling a thousand menus against her...uh...ample bosom. So all the ladies from Keith Hall, St. Louis, Notre Dame ("a" is in "arm") in their form shapeless uniforms could share the Square with LHS Ladies, we all also filled Brigham's and The Ep(icure) as well, to be available for being asked to the LHS GO (Girl Officers) Ball or possibly set up meets for Friday nights in the gyms of IC, Keith Academy and especially the new Holy Trinity on High where everyone could become a Polack for a record hop where, in the mid '50s and for that fifty cents, we had 15 minute record-promo-visits by the likes of the McGuire Sisters, Jerry Vale, all the Fours-Lads, Freshmen, Aces, The Chordettes tinyurl.com/9fhbc7u etc!!! Imagine: one night being part of the birth of Rock n Roll/Rhythm & Blues and the next going to the ballrooms of the Commodore or the Totem Pole tinyurl.com/2g9ah2v to sway Adieu to the likes of tinyurl.com/c3wwfv6 Except for shovelin (snoblowin...what's that?) in cloth, not downfilled coats; mosquitoes; and wet looking backsides from humidity, there was absolutely no better place to have been as a teen!!! A tip of my Tam and XOXO to Mimi, Ev, and especially McGuire...all Belvidere gals!!!! Oh BTW, when watching the Submarine Races, no one did that without at least sharing a coffee frappe from Glennies across the boulevard. Pardon, I'm off to go under the stairs at Green's Five & Ten to have the cobbler put "taps" on my heels and then am off to get my DA restyled as I'm going to see Vincent Price in the House of Wax in that new thing called 3D at the Merrimack theater on Paige across from the underground potties!

Brought back a lot of memories - Santoros, Tonys, etc. I was waiting for a picture of Jones Pharmacy, but I suppose that would have been hard to come by.

" there's nothing like a memory to make me wish that I was young"... brilliant! Rest in peace Mike

I'm Lucien Sawyer born raised in lowell, joined Marines and left my family is still there I live in southern CA, tell all my buddies about lowell, as well as Dig Dig, if you know Dig Dig then you know lowell, awsome song , best back yard ever.

I was born in 79 at Lowell general & lived in Princeton Village behind Wang, not many memories of the slideshow but I remember Demoulas and Wang Such a great video made my heart feel some type of way.

My Dad grew up in Lowell. Lots of memories!

Omg thank you so much! I was born in 1960 and raised for 21 years in Pawtucketville on Gershom Ave and I was amazed at all I saw in this montage! And hearing the names of places and people like Depot Annie and the cat lady. Yes I remember both! Now in my mid 60' and migrated to Bolton Ma! I have to say it seems like only yesterday! It brought everything back! Thanks again!

Yup- now live in Tennessee, but LOVE this song! (Born and Raised in Lowell) with all the Photos!! I was told Mike Noonan died recently. Dawn Reynolds

That's fantastic...LOVE IT, thanks for including us...So sweet !!!

OMG! I remember all these things. Am I really that old?.....

Michael Noonan, Thankyou brother! Amazing that I knew everything you sang about and have a story or two...or ten...about every photo. Really great of you to share this with us...

Ahh, you have to be FROM here to understand...i suppose it's the same with most hometowns...but Lowell has been special from the 1840's right thru today...really cool to see the old Consumer Values Store on Bridge st..the first ever CVS!!..and who could forget the Mammoth Mart and Grants!!...Elliots hot dogs!! and roll it all forward and see that awesome Spinners Field and the "Dog" man!! Woof, Woof :):) Cool song..but not the first about Lowell..another was recorded at the old Speare House in the 50's and is in the juke box at the Georges Pizza on outer Gorham St...

AWESOME song!!! Thank you so much for bringing back all my childhood memories. Love it all!!!!

I only lived in Lowell for 2 years but I felt like I lived there my whole childhood and love it there and this song reminded me of all the fun memories that I had there. P.s it's an amazing song

Oh the memories... Thank you for this song!

i was born in lowell but not raised there. this is beautiful and makes me wonder what life would have been like if i was raised there instead of worcester/auburn. ❤

I am late to finding this but how wonderful. It brings back so many wonderful memories! Born and raised there too and lived there till 7 years ago when I barely tripped over the NH border. I lived, worked and played at many of the places pictured here. I also believe I might have lived a few doors down from you and your family for a couple of years at Shaughnessy. Thank you so much!

I. really love your song and pictures, it brings back lots of memories! Thank you, and may God Bless Lowell.

Loved the Video... I wasn't born in Lowell but been teaching there since 1985 with good friends and students in some of the older schools since being used and think of the city as a big part of me. I may not recognize all the views but there are plenty--Spaghettiville Bridge and river scenes. Has the best folk festival and outdoor music concerts in our area too. Singer Kevin G. Moore is one of our Wakefield kids who discovered folk music and Linden Tree Coffeehouse while in HS. So proud that Linden Tree can take a bit of credit in his music life. He will be releasing a new EP at Linden Tree on Dec. 14th and planning a new CD for the coming year. This song should be included.

Hey Michael , Awesome job buddy . I just relived my childhood . Grew up in Cupples Square . My parents are still in the same house on Osgood St . I really enjoyed it ... from the lyrics to the music and pictures . Awesome pictures by the way ! Thanks !! Scott Barlow

I’m old enough to remember when Mr. “Cs” was called The COMMODORE BALLROOM. memories came flooding Back.

I suspect I am a bit older than both of you, I recognize most of the places in the slide show. I was brought up in the highlands and back in my day you stayed in your own neighborhood unless you had relatives in another part of town. I love it, thanks to both of you, especially Michael.

I just love this. I grew up so close to the Six arch bridge

thank you for this. whats amazing is every memory you spur, ten more flood into my mind. So proud to be from LOWELL.

It a small town but I live in it and I love it here

My hometown love the history kept alive here

Wow, that is awesome. Brought back so many memories. I was born and raised in Lowell from 68 to when I left in 99 to move to NH.

Love this song ive been in lowell since 04 i went to middle nd hs here. I love this city this is beautiful ive seen them tear alotta landmarks down in these years its so sad!! They should leave it be!

I would love to walk back to the 1970- early 80 walk around lowell miss my mom today hold her hand again know everything will be ok because she by my side

I wish I could better appreciate this as I am a teacher in lowell and just moved into the area a few years ago!

Just beautiful. Took everything in these pics for granite at the time. worked at Cupples Sq Diner and put hundreds of miles on Hi-Hat roller skates!

Great Job!!! So many memories!!!

Thank you so much. I grew up in Lowell and the video brought back all sorts of memories. Thank you so much.

Home, Boys, Home! Home is over those hills! I miss my Lowell and Chelmsford home. Been down here in Pennsylvania for the last 25 years.

Expresso!

Thanks for the memorys Michael Noonan and Kevin G Moore great job on video and song loved it.

I was born and raised in Lowell too !

This song is classic! My Dad tells me stories about when he was a kid and he'd spend his Sunday church money on candy, too-while my Gram stayed home of course! That line cracked me up.

Ding Ding...Depot Annie.... wow many memories. I fished sitting in tracks at 6th arch.. drop lines and worms then home to Shaughnessy Terrace.

Our memories of Mr. C's & Lowell are just as powerful & fond. It will always be part of the Brides !!!

Some of the stores are still there, I just moved here about 4 years ago

WOW!..What a flash back

That's my dad's ice cream truck Steve Manekas

this brought back memories ,I lived on temple st until summer of 1972.

I love this slide show, so many great memories! Thank you for putting it back on.

This makes for great memories when we are not around Mass anymore!

great song..These pictures...just amazing.