It was a sad day in Ireland last week after The Pogues singer Shane McGowan passed away. Shane was widely loved in Ireland and his music will live on for years to come. Shane of course is most famous for his Christmas Hit Fairytale in New York which is the most played Christmas song ever I would imagine behind Maria Carey and George Michael. Shane is actually English and born in Kent would you believe but he spent a vast amount of time at his grandparents in Nenagh, Tipperary just up the county from me. The Irish all consider Shane one of our own as he would frequent one local bar especially in Nenagh.
Over the past couple of weeks I have heard great stories around Shane. He was always known to be friendly and humble and fame did not change him which is part of the reason he is adored by some of Hollywood's best known actors such as Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt. When Johnny Depp was going through his very messy divorce he took refuge in Shane's house in London. Shane is the type of person who wouldn't judge as he has probably done everything himself. Shane is also known as a genius lyricist. You would not think that to look at him but some of his song lyrics are the best of all time. I for one thing his classic "Rainy Night in Soho" is the best written song of all time. Here it is and below it is Nick Cave singing it at his funeral.
I've been loving you a long time
Down all the years, down all the days
And I've cried for all your troubles
Smiled at your funny little ways
We watched our friends grow up together
And we saw them as they fell
Some of them fell into Heaven
Some of them fell into Hell
I took shelter from a shower
And I stepped into your arms
On a rainy night in Soho
The wind was whistling all its charms
I sang you all my sorrows
You told me all your joys
Whatever happened to that old song?
To all those little girls and boys
Sometimes I'd wake up in the morning
The ginger lady by my bed
Covered in a cloak of silence
I'd hear you talking in my head
I'm not singing for the future
I'm not dreaming of the past
I'm not talking of the first times
I never think about the last
Now the song is nearly over
We may never find out what it means
Still there's a light I hold before me
You're the measure of my dreams
The measure of my dreams
The funeral was great in a way they combined music with religion and it worked really well. The list of guests performing and saying readings was astonishing . Glen Hansard (Irish Oscar Winner) did a great rendition of Fairytale in New York and guests even got up dancing at the funeral which was delightful as it looked to be a celebration of him.
Outside was a sign saying
"I'm sad to say I must be on my way" which I found funny as it refers to one of his songs. A friend of mine took this.
So there were many of Shanes songs that I listened to but the main album is Rum , Sodomy and The Lash as most of their classics are on this album. I remember back in college we used to listen to the song Fiesta alot before a big night out. Rainy Night in Soho was always one of my favourites. When I watched the Wire I found another Pogies classic called The Body of an American. I used to love his duets with the Dubliners as well as I have always thought that Shanes voice was great for Irish music. It was rough and raw and you always knew who was singing.
I met Shane once in a pub in Dublin and I noticed he was drinking water. I was under the impression he was off the booze which was suprising. Turned out it was a pint of vodka he was drinking. Mother of god.
So this is my three tunes Tuesday for today. No dount 