Boat Train

by **Villajohn** Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:47 am

I was fortunate to be at the soundcheck for the Cardiff gig in December 2005[,i have seen as many soundchecks as i have actual shows!]Spider sang the lead for Boattrain,he replaced 'Pakis' with 'Muslims'.......i noticed that immediately.

by **Ciderman** Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:56 pm

Michaelo wrote:I tend to agree with Ciderman's interpretations of what is being sung. However, personally I think this line: "A couple of accredited thugs" or "A couple of crazy thugs", is actually "A couple of grinning thugs". That's definitely what he sings on the demo from the box set. I know quite a few lines from the demo are changed on the album version but I don't think this is one of them.

That was the only line I wasn't 100% sure about but your absolutely correct

A couple of grinning thugs ;-)

Slowed down clip here https://we.tl/t-LCmSyLZK5P

Thanx for your input

by **Michaelo** Thu Aug 11, 2022 9:03 pm

I tend to agree with Ciderman's interpretations of what is being sung. However, personally I think this line: "A couple of accredited thugs" or "A couple of crazy thugs", is actually "A couple of grinning thugs". That's definitely what he sings on the demo from the box set. I know quite a few lines from the demo are changed on the album version but I don't think this is one of them.

by **Lade** Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:09 pm

Cidermans posts sounds to me to be what Shane actually did sing on the recording.
Staring up the platform makes sence to me as railway conductor. I do it evere day, staring up or down the platform. Up towards the locomotive and signals and down towards the end of the train. As most rail terminals in London is dead-end stations he would stare up the platform when disembarking the train unless he was a train driver :-)

by **Fr. McGreer** Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:04 pm

I've listened to your slowed down clips and the only one i'd give you is "we'd got to Holyhead"

They are purely subjective and could be interpreted differently. Shane rarely pronounces EV-ER-REE SYL-LA-BULL

I'd hazard a guess that you're in the minority on most of your conclusions.

by **Ciderman** Sun Jul 31, 2022 1:52 pm

Fr. McGreer wrote:For feck sake, YOU stated that these were the "Full lyrics on Peace And Love"

If you meant that they were the lyrics YOU think Shane is singing, NOT the printed ones, well that's a different conversation.

And how you can decipher the nuances of Shane's vocal pronunciation on one of the fastest lyrics at a time when his voice wasn't as audible as for example Billy's Bones is beyond a joke. You will hear whatever you want to hear if you listen often enough.

And why haven't you addressed your "crazy thug" line????

Or your "Downed" as opposed to "Found"????

Why would anyone want the printed version when it's already available all over the net? The guy wanted to know what he was actually singing.

This is exactly what he's singing. Listen properly this time :!:

Download link
https://we.tl/t-ujp3DCnzJd

Files are labelled exactly as what Shanes singing

Hopefully this helps

And he probably headed for a smoke just like you'd head to the bar for a pint

by **Fr. McGreer** Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:25 am

Oh...... and why would he head for a smoke when he could smoke all day long on the train in those days????

by **Fr. McGreer** Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:01 am

For feck sake, YOU stated that these were the "Full lyrics on Peace And Love"

If you meant that they were the lyrics YOU think Shane is singing, NOT the printed ones, well that's a different conversation.

And how you can decipher the nuances of Shane's vocal pronunciation on one of the fastest lyrics at a time when his voice wasn't as audible as for example Billy's Bones is beyond a joke. You will hear whatever you want to hear if you listen often enough.

And why haven't you addressed your "crazy thug" line????

Or your "Downed" as opposed to "Found"????

by **Ciderman** Sun Jul 31, 2022 12:55 am

Fr. McGreer wrote:
Ciderman wrote:
SickBed wrote:There's a part of the song "Boat Train" that I can't quite make out and it does not appear on any lyrics websites that I have found.

All I can make out of it is: "Then we went through customs . . . first they looked for bombs and guns, and then they looked for drugs . . ."

Anyone have any idea what this stanza is really saying?

Full Lyrics on Peace & Love

BOAT TRAIN

I met with Napper Tandy
And I shook him by the hand
He said "Hold me up for Christ sake"
For I can hardly stand"
The most distressful journey (DISGRACEFUL)
That I have ever been
The last time that I travel on
The Boat Train

I had a couple of drinks in town
A few more in the port
Puked up on the gangway
But some kind folk helped me board
Sat me on a table
Poured whiskey down my throat
Sat me at a table
And I lost my watch and coat

First we drank some whiskey
Then we had some gin (DRANK) On printed lyric but Shane says 'had'
Then we had tequila (DRANK) As above
And that's what done me in
Then we had some brandy
And the women had a dance
The steward then announced
That we could play the game of "chance"

We crowded round the table
With our money in our hands
I ended up on the other side (NOT ON PRINTED LYRIC)
Without a penny in my pants
I woke up in the toilet
We'd got to Holyhead (WHEN WE)
The doors were all a-banging
And I wished that I was dead

Then we went through customs
With a couple of crazy thugs

(This is the only line in dispute. I think the line is 'T'was a couple of accredited thugs'. Meaning when he met the Custom's officers, they were just two thugs that had official authority to treat you like shite.)

First they looked for bombs and guns
Then they looked for drugs
Stuck a flashlight up my arse
Told some Irish jokes
Said "Fuck off now, Paddy"
So I headed for a smoke (THE) A very important little word that changes the whole meaning of the line.
On the Boat Train

We'd got on board the train
And we'd had a drink or two
Started playing poker
But the booze ran out at Crewe
Some people started sleeping
Others looked for duty free
Some bastard started singing
"The little cottage by the Lee"
He then sang "Paper Roses"
"Boolavogue" "Eileen Aru"
Somebody started slagging off
The Pakis and the Jews

Downed a bottle of whiskey (FOUND) It has to be 'found' because when he sits down to read the paper, he then drinks it
Found a bottle of Gin
Sat down in the corner
And I read the Daily News
First I drank the whiskey
Then I drank the gin
Tried to make the toilet
But I broke my fuckin shin
Next thing that I knew
I was in London in the rain
Staring at the platform (STAGGERING UP)
Of the Boat Train (OF) Does the platform belong to the train? (OFF) He's no longer on the train.

This is wrong http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/L ... Train.html

If you're going to state someone else is wrong you better have your own version correct

I'll leave you to correct your version in the meantime

We'd got to Holyhead (WHEN WE) - Nope, I'm afraid that's wrong

Don't forget....I'm going by what he sings. I'm not going by books or websites or copy and pasting from blogs etc. Listen to the song for yourself, that's actually the best way to hear what is sung

Here's the first correction.

Woke up in the toilet. We'd got to Holyhead

Sample

Download link
https://we.tl/t-oEQ8x7pZfu

Play this 4 second clip on repeat and you'll hear where your going wrong

Second error

So I headed for a smoke (THE) A very important little word that changes the whole meaning of the line. Wrong again!

So I headed for A smoke is correct

Download link
https://we.tl/t-HBHlw1SYjd

Staring at the platform (STAGGERING UP)
Of the Boat Train (OF) Does the platform belong to the train? (OFF) He's no longer on the train. :?:

Staring up the platform of the boat train

Download link
https://we.tl/t-PUuxFrsr1B

by **Fr. McGreer** Sat Jul 30, 2022 7:54 pm

Ciderman wrote:
SickBed wrote:There's a part of the song "Boat Train" that I can't quite make out and it does not appear on any lyrics websites that I have found.

All I can make out of it is: "Then we went through customs . . . first they looked for bombs and guns, and then they looked for drugs . . ."

Anyone have any idea what this stanza is really saying?

Full Lyrics on Peace & Love

BOAT TRAIN

I met with Napper Tandy
And I shook him by the hand
He said "Hold me up for Christ sake"
For I can hardly stand"
The most distressful journey (DISGRACEFUL)
That I have ever been
The last time that I travel on
The Boat Train

I had a couple of drinks in town
A few more in the port
Puked up on the gangway
But some kind folk helped me board
Sat me on a table
Poured whiskey down my throat
Sat me at a table
And I lost my watch and coat

First we drank some whiskey
Then we had some gin (DRANK) On printed lyric but Shane says 'had'
Then we had tequila (DRANK) As above
And that's what done me in
Then we had some brandy
And the women had a dance
The steward then announced
That we could play the game of "chance"

We crowded round the table
With our money in our hands
I ended up on the other side (NOT ON PRINTED LYRIC)
Without a penny in my pants
I woke up in the toilet
We'd got to Holyhead (WHEN WE)
The doors were all a-banging
And I wished that I was dead

Then we went through customs
With a couple of crazy thugs

(This is the only line in dispute. I think the line is 'T'was a couple of accredited thugs'. Meaning when he met the Custom's officers, they were just two thugs that had official authority to treat you like shite.)

First they looked for bombs and guns
Then they looked for drugs
Stuck a flashlight up my arse
Told some Irish jokes
Said "Fuck off now, Paddy"
So I headed for a smoke (THE) A very important little word that changes the whole meaning of the line.
On the Boat Train

We'd got on board the train
And we'd had a drink or two
Started playing poker
But the booze ran out at Crewe
Some people started sleeping
Others looked for duty free
Some bastard started singing
"The little cottage by the Lee"
He then sang "Paper Roses"
"Boolavogue" "Eileen Aru"
Somebody started slagging off
The Pakis and the Jews

Downed a bottle of whiskey (FOUND) It has to be 'found' because when he sits down to read the paper, he then drinks it
Found a bottle of Gin
Sat down in the corner
And I read the Daily News
First I drank the whiskey
Then I drank the gin
Tried to make the toilet
But I broke my fuckin shin
Next thing that I knew
I was in London in the rain
Staring at the platform (STAGGERING UP)
Of the Boat Train (OF) Does the platform belong to the train? (OFF) He's no longer on the train.

This is wrong http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/L ... Train.html

If you're going to state someone else is wrong you better have your own version correct :oops:

by **Ciderman** Mon Jul 18, 2022 11:23 pm

SickBed wrote:There's a part of the song "Boat Train" that I can't quite make out and it does not appear on any lyrics websites that I have found.

All I can make out of it is: "Then we went through customs . . . first they looked for bombs and guns, and then they looked for drugs . . ."

Anyone have any idea what this stanza is really saying?

Full Lyrics on Peace & Love

BOAT TRAIN

I met with Napper Tandy
And I shook him by the hand
He said "Hold me up for Christ sake"
For I can hardly stand"
The most distressful journey
That I have ever been
The last time that I travel on
The Boat Train

I had a couple of drinks in town
A few more in the port
Puked up on the gangway
But some kind folk helped me board
Sat me on a table
Poured whiskey down my throat
Sat me at a table
And I lost my watch and coat

First we drank some whiskey
Then we had some gin
Then we had tequila
And that's what done me in
Then we had some brandy
And the women had a dance
The steward then announced
That we could play the game of "chance"

We crowded round the table
With our money in our hands
I ended up on the other side
Without a penny in my pants
I woke up in the toilet
We'd got to Holyhead
The doors were all a-banging
And I wished that I was dead

Then we went through customs
With a couple of crazy thugs
First they looked for bombs and guns
Then they looked for drugs
Stuck a flashlight up my arse
Told some Irish jokes
Said "Fuck off now, Paddy"
So I headed for a smoke
On the Boat Train

We'd got on board the train
And we'd had a drink or two
Started playing poker
But the booze ran out at Crewe
Some people started sleeping
Others looked for duty free
Some bastard started singing
"The little cottage by the Lee"
He then sang "Paper Roses"
"Boolavogue" "Eileen Aru"
Somebody started slagging off
The Pakis and the Jews

Downed a bottle of whiskey
Found a bottle of Gin
Sat down in the corner
And I read the Daily News
First I drank the whiskey
Then I drank the gin
Tried to make the toilet
But I broke my fuckin shin
Next thing that I knew
I was in London in the rain
Staring at the platform
Of the Boat Train

This is wrong http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/L ... Train.html

by **Jon** Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:13 pm

Napper Tandy is also cockney rhyming slang for Brandy

by **Zuzana** Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:07 am

The excellent Poguetry.com website explains that the lyrics allude to the Irish rebel song "The Wearing of the Green":

I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand,
And he said, "How's poor ould Ireland, and how does she stand?"

More info here.

by **Jaster** Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:02 am

What is the significance of Napper Tandy in Boat Train? I know a (very) little of who he was and what we did, so being a quite contraversial figure I'm sure there must be some reason he features in particular, but for the life of me I can't figure it out.

Cheers

by **pogues24** Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:19 am

robertc wrote:Why is one verse of Boat Train never in the printed lyrics? It's not even in the CD notes for the newer version of Peace and Love. It's not printed in the Poguetry book also.

Not really sure. The same can be said as too why Red Roses For Me never contains the lyrics to any of the album's songs in the liner notes. But, hey Boat Train is still a classic song and one of the highlights on Peace and Love. :lol:

Iain

Boat Train

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