I believe I’ve mentioned in the past that my paternal heritage goes back to the auld sod; my father was a second generation Irish immigrant. I’ve always felt a close kinship to that heritage—more so, perhaps, in my hard-living youth, when I read as much Yeats & Joyce & Heaney & Behan as I could get my hands on, & felt a strong pull toward the Irish Republic. Although I’m no longer so absorbed in this, I’m still proud of that heritage; & I’m very happy to see that the horrific troubles in both Eire & Northern Ireland have calmed over the past decade.
Now, thinking back to the mid 80s, I recall buying an album called Poguetry in Motion; it was an EP really, just a few cuts per side—but I was immediately hooked on the Pogues & continued to be a fan for a number of years; I find I’m still moved by their music, tho I rarely listen to it. I never did see them live—a bit of a regret—tho some folks I knew, The Bedlam Rovers, opened for them once in San Francisco.
I must say I listened to the Pogues’ a lot—& especially (but far from exclusively), If I Should Fall From Grace with God—& I still could, tho I don’t listen much to the music I loved at that time anymore. I’d hoped to find a clip of “The Recruiting Sergeant/Rocky Road to Dublin/Galway Races” from that album—it’s probably my favorite cut, & would be a great St. Patrick’s "warm-up" tune—but couldn’t find one. However, I really like the slide show YouTube user Jtpoguemahone made for another great Pogue’s tune, “Thousands Are Sailing.” He juxtaposes the tune with some photos of immigrants, Ellis Island, & New York City; & this song still gives me chills.
Hope you enjoy this as a St. Patrick’s Day warm-up—we’ll have another Irish post tomorrow—a poem by a very famous Irish poet.
Pic of the Pogues is from irishrockers.com
Great post, John! I love the Pogues - can still remember getting a d.j. (in a grungy club in the west end of Toronto where I used to hand out with my friends) to play the Sickbed of Cuchulainn so we could just go berserk on the dance floor! I also love, "Dirty Old Town" and their version of "Waltzing Mathilda". I haven't listened to them in ages either, but I just may have to drag them out again.
ReplyDeleteThe pull is ever there, isn't it?
Kat
Almost forgot, we saw a doc on them a few years back and is Shane McGowan not one of the homeliest characters? (A great performer though!)
ReplyDeleteKat
Thanks Kat: Yes, they were (are) a scalding hot band-- they could really play, & were extremely danceable. Let's just say they must have broken the mold when they made Shane McGowan-- but yes, he had the perfect voice & presence for the band.
ReplyDeleteJohn, check out my "Aftermath" post and have a listen to Harry Manx. I think you'll like it.
ReplyDeleteKat
Lend me ten pounds and I'll buy you a drink!
ReplyDeleteThe Pogues are great! I saw them on '89 and twice in '07, the first time in Boston. It was all of 9 degrees outside and the show had been added at the last minute. Everyone knew every word to every song -- it was definitely their home turf in Ameri-kay.
It's an odd band for a whole family to like, but I have great memories of the four of us tooling around the west of Ireland and singing along with The Very Best of the Pogues.
Check out Shane and the lads singing "Irish Rover" with the late great Ronnie Drew and the Dubliners here.
Hi K.: Geez, I'm jealous of those shows. I had a chance to see them in San Francisco in the very early 90s-- actually, I think it was the show when the Bedlam Rovers opened (may post a vid of those folks tomorrow)-- but for some reason I now forget it didn't work out.
ReplyDeleteNice one John! Loved the pogues too and that album(fall from grace)is the best.Shane MacGowan had, for good or bad, a huge influence on my whole lifestyle for years the worst vestiges of which I am still saddled now.Saw him perform only twice and the second time he was past his best.Don't listen to the songs so much now , but when I do, they still pull at the strings of the soul let alone the heart.I would have to say he was the best Irish songwriter of his generation and the fact that many of his songs will live on long after he is gone is testament to his talent.Lookin' forward to the poem, I'm guessing which one it is, see if I'm right later!
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