What Is Your Favourite Line/Phrase In A Pogues Song??

[Christine]

I’m happy as the horses shite

The horse, unlike the pig, is quite a dignified creature.

I love that line too. But in defence of pigs I'd like to quote Winston Churchill (of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash fame ) who said that dogs look up to humans, cats look down on humans, and pigs treat us as equals.

[AndrewOG]

I’m happy as the horses shite

This one always stumped me. Is horses' shite particulairly happy, is there some regional slang i don't get, or is it just what it is?

There is the common (Irish?) usage "happy as a pig in shite", so I suspect Shane corrupted it a bit to suit a saga of racing and gambling and winning against the odds. I think it's an improvement. The horse, unlike the pig, is quite a dignified creature, but we have no evidence it is self-conscious or coy about its defecations, indeed it often appears to revel in their magnitude and scale.

I've never been privy to an equine basking in the glow of their mighty feces. If this does indeed happen, that doesn't sound very dignified, although certainly more so than some of the alternatives.

[girlfromcountyhell]

I’m happy as the horses shite

This one always stumped me. Is horses' shite particulairly happy, is there some regional slang i don't get, or is it just what it is?

There is the common (Irish?) usage "happy as a pig in shite", so I suspect Shane corrupted it a bit to suit a saga of racing and gambling and winning against the odds. I think it's an improvement. The horse, unlike the pig, is quite a dignified creature, but we have no evidence it is self-conscious or coy about its defecations, indeed it often appears to revel in their magnitude and scale.

I've never been privy to an equine basking in the glow of their mighty feces. If this does indeed happen, that doesn't sound very dignified, although certainly more so than some of the alternatives.

Hmmm, well maybe they at least smell better than pigs? After all, they don't eat table scraps or whatever you feed pigs. But I don't really know what pigs are fed. Never really thought about it. I guess I can't really comment. I just know that pigs smell far worse than horses.

On another note, I'd have to say the entirety of Rainy Night in Soho is amazing. The line "you're the measure of my dreams" has rendered my soulless, usually tear-free self a crying mess. That's definitely saying something.

[Low D]

I love that line too. But in defence of pigs I'd like to quote Winston Churchill (of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash fame ) who said that dogs look up to humans, cats look down on humans, and pigs treat us as equals.

But, as that other great englishman said, some are more equal than others, right?

Thanks for the explanation, Philip. "Happy as a pig in shit" is used on this side of the pond too, funny i never made the connection.

[Sheriff Fatman]

Hello all

This would have to be one of me faves due to the raw, desperate , merciless imagery it conjures up in my mind :

I'll be with them asleep and dreaming
I'll be there when they wake with screaming
At the hour of death then I will nurse them
To have a moment more to curse them
Watch the maggots crawl out of them
Hear the angels call above them
Watch them as the cold air sucks them
Down to hell, goodnight, God love them
If any should escape above me
Beg and cheat until they trust me
Drag them down to be damned with me
Laugh at them as they forgive me

[JohnG]

It would be good to see the Pogues' wonderful lyrics collated and published in a book. Wonder if any consideration has ever been given to this?

[Fr. McGreer]

It would be good to see the Pogues' wonderful lyrics collated and published in a book. Wonder if any consideration has ever been given to this?

See Poguetry, it's got the lyrics of MacGowan up to about 1988. Now out of print, but occasionally on Ebay.

[phro37]

There is the common (Irish?) usage "happy as a pig in shite",

i wonder if a pig ever became enlightened one day whilst in the shit, looked around and asked himself "what the fuck are we doing?" but since pigs can't talk it would've been difficult for said pig to convey the idea to his sty mates. that must be why they still do it.

on a more "on-topic" note (and yet still a bit off) i think the accordion in fiesta is awesome. it's just a great song all around, but something about the accordion part really does it for me.

one of my favorite lines would be "some people they are scared to croak but jimmy drank until he choked" from sally, or "i'll walk in on my feet but i'll leave there on my back" from streams. there are more of course but there are just too many more.

[Welshie]

Don't hear much about this song, but I love it and can't boil it down to anything less than the last stanza. Plus, the music is lovely.

As I walked on with a heavy heart
Then a stone danced on the tide
And the song went on
Though the lights were gone
And the North wind gently sighed
And an evening breeze coming from the East
That kissed the riverside
So I pray now child that you sleep tonight
When you hear this lullaby
May the wind that blows from haunted graves
Never bring you misery
May the angels bright
Watch you tonight
And keep you while you sleep

I love this song, and sing it to my kids during bed times, however for the favourite of them all, for me is "there was nothing ever gained by a wet thing called a tear" from Streams of Whiskey, one day (sadly) i'm going to die and as they lead me out of the chapel i want to hear Streams of Whiskey blasting out.
Cheers
Aled

[girlfromcountyhell]

Don't hear much about this song, but I love it and can't boil it down to anything less than the last stanza. Plus, the music is lovely.

As I walked on with a heavy heart
Then a stone danced on the tide
And the song went on
Though the lights were gone
And the North wind gently sighed
And an evening breeze coming from the East
That kissed the riverside
So I pray now child that you sleep tonight
When you hear this lullaby
May the wind that blows from haunted graves
Never bring you misery
May the angels bright
Watch you tonight
And keep you while you sleep

I love this song, and sing it to my kids during bed times, however for the favourite of them all, for me is "there was nothing ever gained by a wet thing called a tear" from Streams of Whiskey, one day (sadly) i'm going to die and as they lead me out of the chapel i want to hear Streams of Whiskey blasting out.
Cheers
Aled

I've always loved "Lullaby of London", but until recently I didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics. It really is an incredible song!

One of my new favorites is "Curse of Love" from the extras on Hell's Ditchfor its lyrics:

The bottle's empty, I've drunk it dry,
And still I feel the pain
Well, all we had is lost now,
Like teardrops in the rain
The night is long, I'm tired and weary,
But I don't know where this road will lead me,
I'll turn to stone, let the rivers flow,
And wash me to the sea

[dave 81]

Ah yes, the swine thread. I can't resist:
www.metacafe.com/watch/2346868/kingsfor ... the-beach/

[phro37]

Ah yes, the swine thread. I can't resist:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2346868/k ... the-beach/

man that kingsford was piked out at the end!

[pnetez]

saw our friends grow up together and we watched them as they fell some of them fell into Heaven some of them fell into hell

[old barney greyheron]

It would be good to see the Pogues' wonderful lyrics collated and published in a book. Wonder if any consideration has ever been given to this?

See Poguetry, it's got the lyrics of MacGowan up to about 1988. Now out of print, but occasionally on Ebay.

I've got that kicking about somewhere..
Terribly hard to pick a fave line or phrase..I can't even pick a song..I have them in different categories (only in my head..i'm not weird)...but 'when I got back to my empty room, I suppose I must've cried'...by Chevron is certainly one which 'gets' me..especially in drink.

[guest]

Do you remember that sunny day?
Somewhere in London
It was really nowhere
I didn't have nothing to do that day
Didn't want to do nothing anyway