So I’m sitting and listening to music with my son on this gloomy day, and the Pogues’ “Thousands Are Sailing” comes on. My kid starts bouncing around and shouting “and we dance to the music!” And I start bawling, like, full-on ugly crying, for the first time in a long time. Shane MacGowan is dead.
Talk about ugly crying, man. I'm glad you gave the unvarnished opinion regarding the hazards of the lifestyle. Too much brilliance gone too soon.
The crazy, beautiful paradox here is the permanence from the brevity. If you travel in this particular music circuit, you have a Pogues story just like the one you had from Canada Day. Mine was a CD in the car with my aunt when I was barely 12 and was rapidly forming my own musical interests. We were going whale watching. Never had I heard a marriage of the old and the new like that before, and it grabbed me. Sent me on the journey that would lead me to the Dreadnoughts a decade later.
I wouldn't trade that car ride for anything. I'm glad the diamonds from the gutter are here forever, I just wish it didn't mean losing Shane to get them. And as you pointed out, it didn't have to.
Thanks for sharing all that while it was still raw. And thank you, Shane, for everything.
Thank you so much- you have taught me so much- since I found Eliza Lee and got in trouble in my classroom because the kids were banging too loudly on the desks while the class next door was trying to take a test- I loved fairytale of New York- I’ve probably listened to it 150 times in the last year - maybe more- I loved your story- thank you-
Bellamy is another tragic tale. I remember hearing him for the first time and being enthralled only to find he had taken his own life before I was even born. The more I listened the more my appreciation grew and I started to become angry, as he had deprived the world of more 'diamonds'. I recently had the opportunity to talk to some of those who knew him and he still is such a huge influence in the English folk scene. If only he could have seen how much he was missed...
This hits in all the right spots. Had a few tears today as well. Been the soundtrack of the last 35 years. Raising a glass to Shane, and educating the grandkids with some of the classic Pogues tunes. Thanks for this.
This is absolutely beautifully stated, and spot on.
Talk about ugly crying, man. I'm glad you gave the unvarnished opinion regarding the hazards of the lifestyle. Too much brilliance gone too soon.
The crazy, beautiful paradox here is the permanence from the brevity. If you travel in this particular music circuit, you have a Pogues story just like the one you had from Canada Day. Mine was a CD in the car with my aunt when I was barely 12 and was rapidly forming my own musical interests. We were going whale watching. Never had I heard a marriage of the old and the new like that before, and it grabbed me. Sent me on the journey that would lead me to the Dreadnoughts a decade later.
I wouldn't trade that car ride for anything. I'm glad the diamonds from the gutter are here forever, I just wish it didn't mean losing Shane to get them. And as you pointed out, it didn't have to.
Thanks for sharing all that while it was still raw. And thank you, Shane, for everything.
Thank you so much- you have taught me so much- since I found Eliza Lee and got in trouble in my classroom because the kids were banging too loudly on the desks while the class next door was trying to take a test- I loved fairytale of New York- I’ve probably listened to it 150 times in the last year - maybe more- I loved your story- thank you-
An honest description of the man, and not the legend
Bellamy is another tragic tale. I remember hearing him for the first time and being enthralled only to find he had taken his own life before I was even born. The more I listened the more my appreciation grew and I started to become angry, as he had deprived the world of more 'diamonds'. I recently had the opportunity to talk to some of those who knew him and he still is such a huge influence in the English folk scene. If only he could have seen how much he was missed...
Oh man. His version of Oak and Ash and Thorn still gives me chills!
Thank you.
That is really, really well done. Thank you.
This is really lovely and honest, thank you so much for writing it.
This hits in all the right spots. Had a few tears today as well. Been the soundtrack of the last 35 years. Raising a glass to Shane, and educating the grandkids with some of the classic Pogues tunes. Thanks for this.
-Steve
Nice touch. Soured only by realising that as an englishman I've only 2 more years left