The Pogues where a literary band, if ever there was one, at least out of the punk tradition. Melding as they did the punk sensibility with their Irish persuasion proved a volatile mix, indeed. Though this rendition of "The Auld Triangle" leans more toward the the Irish folk band, The Dubliners, than it does anything done by the Ramones, still, if Shane MacGowan is crooning, it's rock or nothing, lads, so here you have.
The lit connection is that the song comes from the breakthrough hit play "The Quare Fellow," by the Irish writer and raconteur, Brendan Behan. A voracious drinker - he'd once described himself as "a drinker with a writing problem - fame took it's predictable toll. He hand penned in his career, however, some of the milestones of Irish literature, in song, drama, an his autobiographical novel, Borstel Boy.
He was dead by age 21
Here's the aforementioned Dubliner's version, live:
And, to solidify that rock connection, let's go full circle, with this number which Bono dedicates to Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners:
Ok, it's out of control and now really the circle starts again, with the original studio version of "The Auld Triangle" with Ronnie Drew singing:
We now turn you back over, if any of you are still here, to your regular interwebs.
Blessed Shawn
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even for winter's withering
an indifferent face...
sea gull
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue
best,
Don
Don
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Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 143 songs
Have not listened much to the Pogues.
ReplyDeletePost update - for clarity's sake, Eamon Loingsigh points out that the song was written by Dominic Behan, though it did appear in Brendan's play.
ReplyDeleteespecially loved The Dubliner's live version. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete