Song of the Day September 29- Pogues

[UnforgettableLemon]

Can't recall if I've done a Pogues song yet. Anyway, today's song is "Dirty Old Town". Granted, they did not write this song, but damn they own it. What an effing brilliant cover. It's obviously not an up-tempo song at all, but the music is so meticulously executed and Shane just oozes coolness and attitude in his vocals while still sounding reasonably "good". I just love this song. I think it stands up there with their originals, and is much better than their cover of "The Irish Rover" with the Dubliners, although that's not a bad cover in itself. Anyway, great evocative lyrics, reminds me of James Joyce's "Dubliners" in that it doesn't attempt to gloss anything over, shows the dirty but beautiful life of Dublin at the turn of the century. Joyce dealt with characters in the city, the original writer, Ewan McColl, chose to deal with the city itself. It's a wonderful song on a wonderful album. (Everyone should listen to Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash at least once)

Dirty Old Town

By Ewan McColl
I met my love by the gas works wall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed a girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

Clouds a drifting across the moon
Cats a prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl in the street at night
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

Heard a siren from the docks
Saw a train set the night on fire
Smelled the spring on the smoky wind
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

I'm going to make me a good sharp axe
Shining steel tempered in the fire
Will chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

I met my love by the gas works wall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed a girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

 

[IWasBored]

 

[tiny dancer]

I like Fairytale of New York by the Pogues!

 

[dsmith2904]

Very fantastic!

 

[OzAurora]

Great song....I love the Pogues..my fave song is actually 'If I should fall from grace with god'

 

[IWasBored]

'the body of an american' is probably my favorite pogues song

 

[Homerpalooza]

"Thousands Are Sailing" is probably my favorite...

 

[UnforgettableLemon]

My fave is probably Rainy Night in Soho, or Dirty Old Town, or IISFFGWG, or Fairytale of New York, or Billy's Bones, or The Band Played Waltzing Matilda or... dammmit....

POGUES


edit: forgot about "A Man You don't Meet Every Day"

I can see why Elvis Costello married her.

 

[IWasBored]

"Thousands Are Sailing" is probably my favorite...

definetly another one in my top...2 or 3.

i'm trying to enjoy the new social d album...i'm going to have to put on a pogues album in a few seconds, aren't i...gotta love it when that happens.

too good