The great Shane MacGowan has died. Them angels better run like hell.

[nolabear]

There’s never been a truer storyteller, mad genius, busted hero, human. This Christmas this one will be played constantly—as it should.

?si=YUU80mD9HKEpSHnc

[redqueen]

1. RIP to a legend

[The Wielding Truth]

2. You must take the time to listen to his songs from beginning to end. They will stir your soul.

[nolabear]

3. Truth. As someone who's majority Irish I savor every syllable.

The stories. God, the stories. In the words, the voice, the face, in everything. I hope he gets the tributes he richly deserves.

[DFW]

4. The Pogues were on «Folk Review» almost every week 40 years ago

That was the show on BFBS radio that could be heard worldwide, including in Germany for BAOR troops. I was once even on it. Great fun. His voice was more than just distinctive. It was iconic.

[meadowlander]

5. ...

[nolabear]

7. How did I not know this?

Incredible. Just incredible.

[LisaM]

6. What a writer.

in Manhattan's desert twilight
In the death of afternoon
We stepped hand in hand on Broadway
Like the first man on the moon

And a blackbird broke the silence
As you whistled it so sweet
And in Brendan Behan's footsteps
I danced up and down the street

Then we said goodnight to Broadway
Giving it our best regards
Tipped our hats to Mister Cohen
Dear old Times Square's favourite bard

Then we raised a glass to JFK
And a dozen more besides
When I got back to my empty room
I suppose I must have cried.

[nolabear]

8. What a poet. And I don't use that term lightly.

He could make a grocery list and make you cry.

[scipan]

13. Telling it true

You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

[LisaM]

17. But the song circles around...

People remember those lines, but over all, I believe it's meant to be hopeful.

I have been in rooms at Irish music festivals where everyone is singing that song with their arms around each other and frankly, life is rarely better than at those moments.

[scipan]

20. Was not quoting it in a derogatory way, had no idea

That it was the most quoted and discussed if his lines.

I love a good Irish drinking song as much as anyone. To repent, I'll quote a few more:

In the rosy parks of England, we’ll sit and have a drink

Of VP wine and cider ‘til we can hardly think

And we’ll go where the spirits take us, to heaven or to hell

And kick up bloody murder in the town we love so well


The opening track of the Pogues’ debut album was a raucous ode to going on the lash in London, and as a statement of intent, this first line was unequivocal. The “rosy parks of England” conjures up Pimm’s on the croquet lawn, but it’s clear that these bowsies are out to stomp all over the picnic basket.


3. Streams of Whiskey
I have cursed, bled and sworn, jumped bail and landed up in jail

Life has often tried to stretch me, but the rope always went slack

And now that I’ve a pile, I’ll go down to the Chelsea

I’ll walk in on my feet, but I’ll leave there on my back

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/11/30/shane-macgowan-the-lyrics-that-defined-a-great-songwriter/

[LudwigPastorius]

9. He lived hard.

At the end, he looked at least 20 years older than he was.

[RevBrotherThomas]

10. As Brilliant & Broken as they come...

RIP

[Casandia]

11. My absolute favorite song was

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda from the album Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash

?si=Z6jyRGoEdTG582y9

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. That's an folk song

They didn't write it.

[Casandia]

15. Oops

Even though Eric Bogle wrote it, I thought Shane sang it brilliantly - plus his voice sounded so much like my Irish grandfather’s….

But if this discussion is for original Shane songs, I’ll happily delete

[2naSalit]

14. He always struck me as sort of...

A 20th century Dylan Thomas.

[Warpy]

16. NPR has a good article

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/30/1213870952/shane-macgowan-pogues-obit

It was impossible to walk past a pub in Boston without hearing the Pogues blasting from the sound system in the 80s.

Sent home with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Likely alcohol got him.

Thanks for the stories, Shane MacGowan, now teach the angels how to sing.

[LisaM]

18. I was in Dublin the morning after Sinead died.

People were quiet, but her music was drifting out of the pubs, too. It was eerie. I wish I was in Dublin now.

[nolabear]

19. I have EarthCam app and they have a Dublin cam

One outside and one in a pub. I can’t quite tell but I imagine there’s a lot being lifted and sung in his honor.

Btw I recommend EarthCam. It’s fascinating just looking in on public cameras all over the world.