Shane did come back to The Pogues ;) in my opinion The Pogues cannae be The Pogues without him.
They continued Shaneless for a few years then stopped altogether until the band re-united in 2001. They have not made any new albums, and currently have no plans to do so.
They regularly tour, always in the States (mostly East coast..which is unfortunate because I'd love to see them) at St Patrick's Day time and all over the UK in December.
They have had at least 13 members...and currently have 8. They play a variety of traditional instruments, which combined with Shane's voice give The Pogues their unique sound.
Shane Macgowan was born on Christmas Day in 1957. His Irish family, from Tipperary, were visiting relatives in Kent England at the time of his birth. Both parents interested in the arts, his mother a dancer/model, his father a writer...it's no surprise Shane himself became a songwriter and singer of one of the most internationally known Irish bands, The Pogues.
When Shane was 6 his family moved to London. They lived both in Brighton and London.When he was 14, he was accepted into Westminster on a Literature scolarship .
He was kicked out a year later for drug possession.
At 19 Shane started his first punk rock band called The Nipple Erectors later known as the Nips.
Around this same time, Shane also played in a band called Millwall Chainsaw...this band eventually evolved into The Pogues.
As The Pogues evolved, Shane changed his style of singing....less punk more classical Irish. He was tutored by members of his family.
Early Pogues in 1985 performing Sally Maclennane
In 1991 Shane parted ways with The Pogues, due to his prolific drinking problems.
Of course I'm gonna post my very favorite Pogues tunes... This is A Rainy Night in Soho.... amazing lyrics xx
The song is found on the EP: POGUETRY IN MOTION in 1986.
It was later re-released in 2004/05 on the Re-released and remastered album Rum Sodomy and the Lash (originally released in 1985).
The song was produced by Elvis Costello.
There are a few versions floating around. Originally lead singer and songwriter Shane MacGowan wanted the final released version to feature the cornet
at the end
while Elvis Costello preferred the Oboe. Eventually both versions were released in different regions. The Americas and Canada got the Oboe version, while Shane's preferred cornet version was released in the UK and Europe. Later a third version was released mixing elements of both.
Guitarist Phil Chevron says "there are something like 13 versions with different edits of the two recordings."
Below Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds cover the song in 1992
and one more cover, this one I really love has a bit of a folky and warm feel
It's by Damien Dempsey and unfortunately I can't find the full song/studio version.
It's too beautiful to not include..partial song or not.
I have read that this song is about whisky...there are some clues in the lyrics that may lead to that conclusion "measure" measure of my dreams ect... and Shane, who wrote the song certainly has a romance with the drink. Whatever the meaning I find it to be one of the greatest love songs ever.
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
wake up in the morning The ginger lady by my bed Covered in a cloak of silence I 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 time 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
[Roger Waters] All alone, or in twos, The ones who really love you Walk up and down outside the wall. Some hand in hand And some gathered together in bands. The bleeding hearts and artists Make their stand. And when they've given you their all Some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy Banging your heart against some mad bugger's wall.
I first saw the film Pink Floyd The Wall when I was 14. I was surprised to find it such an emotional movie. I loved it immediately. I have since found that not everyone does. Most either love it or hate it. I loved the story,the music of course, the animation and the symbolism that is throughout the film. To this day I love love love the film!!!!! In all of my "Bricks"blogs I have tried to present the film as it happened to Pink. So I did not necessarily follow the film chronologically... but Pink's life. I hope my nattering on about the film was enjoyed...because I thoroughly enjoyed doing it :)
tired of the new persona,tired of the wall just plain tired
Pink makes an exit from the concert
We find him in the stall of the public restroom
with his book of lyrics...having a reality check
He kind of doesn't believe what he has done
STOP (from the film audio is poor)
STOP (audio)
[album: Roger Waters, movie: Bob Geldof] Stop! I wanna go home. Take off this uniform And leave the show. But I'm waiting in this cell Because I have to know Have I been guilty all this time?
The wall so big and ominous
Pink almost a nothing within.....
he decides to put himself on trial
in his head of course....
The Trial
[Roger Waters] Good morning, Worm your honor. The crown will plainly show The prisoner who now stands before you Was caught red-handed showing feelings Showing feelings of an almost human nature. This will not do. Call the schoolmaster! I always said he'd come to no good In the end your honor. If they'd let me have my way I could have Flayed him into shape. But my hands were tied, The bleeding hearts and artists Let him get away with murder. Let me hammer him today. Crazy...toys in the attic I am crazy, Truly gone fishing. They must have taken my marbles away. [Choir] Crazy, toys in the attic. He is crazy. [Roger Waters] You little shit you're in it now, I hope they throw away the key. You should have talked to me more often Than you did, but no! You had to go your own way. Have you broken any homes up lately? Just five minutes, Worm your honor, Him and Me, alone. Baaaabe! Come to mother baby, let me hold you in my arms. M'Lord I never wanted him to get in any trouble. Why'd he ever have to leave me? Worm, your honor, let me take him home. Crazy, over the rainbow, I am crazy, Bars in the window. There must have been a door there in the wall When I came in. [Choir] Crazy, over the rainbow, he is crazy. [Roger Waters] The evidence before the court is incontrovertible There's no need for the jury to retire. In all my years of judging I have never heard before Of someone more deserving of the full penalty of law. The way you made them suffer, Your exquisite wife and mother, Fills me with the urge to defecate! Since, my friend, you have revealed your deepest fear I sentence you to be exposed before your peers. Tear down the wall! [Crowd Chant] Tear down the wall!