Just heard that Shane MacGowan has finally passed on after a long struggle with health issues from alcoholism. For those not familiar with Irish music he was founder and singer for the Pogues and one of the most influential musicians. He pioneered taking Irish folk music and themes and combining them with punk. As such he not only invented Celtic Punk but also helped to bring gypsy and many other traditional regional music to wider audiences. He also was an incredibly sensitive songwriter who was in the long tradition of Irish poets writing about both joy and sorrow. There are a lot of songs that he will be remembered for and here are a few. With Sinead O'Connor, another great Irish musician we lost recently. This was his biggest hit with the Pogues. This song is one that I've been listening to a lot recently and one that captures the melancholy and joy of Shane MacGowan.
well fudge. He lived a pretty rough and tumble life, so it's somewhat of a blessing he made it as long as he did. RIP
those are my two favorite pogues songs. 2023 has been rough for irish music - sinead and now macgowan. gonna be a lot of guinness being drunk in dublin today. heres another one that he wrote...
I’ve been listening to Shane MacGowan songs all day. Here are some more great ones: There are so many great songs he wrote and / or performed. My band could do a whole set of just Shane MacGowan .
@rocketsjudoka thank you so much for always leaning into Ireland. My older brother is less Irish than you are. Super grateful for your understanding. Sláinte
As I tell people I’m the most Irish person in my band. My family was actually oppressed by the Brits and I’ve actually fought and beat a Brit (judo match in Singapore.)
S’Lainte! Will let you know the next time I’m down in Houston. Had a few Guinesses last night for Shane.
This came up in my mix. A great documentary about Shane MacGowan made in the 90's. Some interesting stuff about the British music scene in the late 70's and 80's including the Punk scene.
heres a good 10 song sampler... https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...NDY-8ZLK2x9DSOOtN5Y1emJywc#Echobox=1701360331 hot damn, if i should fall from grace with god is such an anthem. great lyrics, and that 2nd verse is a nice shot at the british. [Verse 1] If I should fall from grace with God Where no doctor can relieve me If I'm buried 'neath the sod But the angels won't receive me [Chorus] Let me go, boys Let me go, boys Let me go down in the mud Where the rivers all run dry [Verse 2] This land was always ours Was the proud land of our fathers It belongs to us and them Not to any of the others [Chorus] Let them go, boys Let them go, boys Let them go down in the mud Where the rivers all run dry [Verse 3] Bury me at sea Where no murdered ghost can haunt me If I rock upon the waves No corpse shall lie upon me [Chorus] It's coming up threes, boys Keeps coming up threes, boys Let them go down in the mud Where the rivers all run dry [Verse 1] If I should fall from grace with God Where no doctor can relieve me If I'm buried 'neath the sod So the angels won't receive me [Chorus] Let me go, boys Let me go, boys Let me go down in the mud Where the rivers all run dry
Some more history on the Pogues. The song Birmingham Six was banned in Britain in 1988 with a broadcast of it cut to commercial before the song was done during a live performance. The controversy was about how Irish couldn’t get Justice in British courts.
