Thousands Are Sailing

**Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:46 am**

It's a brilliant, brilliant song - moves me every time. Funny - I listen to various live renditions so much, and Philip's vocal is always so beautiful and spot-on, I tend to forget that the studio version features Shane on vocals. As much as I love what Shane does with the song, Philip's live version is the definitive one for me. And in three months' time, I'll get to experience it first hand!

**Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:36 am**

I think "Thousands Are Sailing" is both musicaly and lyrics-wise one of the finest Pogues' songs and I love the way Shane sang it on the album.

**Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:02 am**

The song is a masterpiece.

It should of been released as a single - as should alot of other pogues records.

Feck it philip, why not release it now?

:lol:

**Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:24 am**

agree it's one of the best Pogues songs. It's pity that Philip didn't sing the studio version (Shane seems to be a bit offkey in the beginning, doesn't he?). Live he seems to put all his heart into it and it was a definite highlight at Guilfest.
Having said that the way the harmony vocals come in on the studio version ("...said goodnight to broadway", "...raised a glass to JFK") gives me goose bumps everytime.

And how nice to see you like The Band too, Mr C, as they're one of my favourite groups beside the Pogues. It makes me wonder how some songs would have sounded if you had traded lead vocals like the Band had done on tunes like We Can Talk or The Rumour. I wonder which Pogues songs could have worked that way?

**Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:07 am**

I wouldn't change the studio version, but maybe a studio version with Phil on vocals would of been a good idea on one the extra tracks, on the re-released albums.

**Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:17 pm**

I agree this song is excellent and I really like Shane's singing, I think he hit the nail on the head.

But saying that I know nothing of singing in key and notes and all that technical jumbo, and I have not heard Mr. Cheveron's version but I am sure he does a wonderful job!

**Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:49 pm**

Arthur, check the following links if you want to hear Philip Chevron singing the song (live recordings from Reunion 2004 and from Guilfest):
http://www.shanemacgowan.de/ReUnion/17-1000.mp3
http://home.no.net/oylade/Guilfest%2020 ... ailing.mp3

**Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:43 am**

WAS TRHE SONG USED IN A BEER COMMERCIAL B4?

**Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:03 am**

Wow, that sounded really good.
Thanks Zuzana there are both excellent and I am glad I have heard them as a have heard very little of The Pogues live, although I would give my right arm to go see them in concert.

I not going to say who is the better singer, it is impossible to tell, it is an excellent song and both singers do a terrific job!

P.S. I have never seen heard the song in a beer commercial before but that dosn't mean it hasn't been in one.

**Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:11 am**

MissWalshy wrote:
Feck it philip, why not release it now?

At last we agree on something Walshy.

**Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:38 am**

AT LAST????

What you mean you haven't always listened to me and thought WOW.

**Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:08 pm**

philipchevron wrote:Hell, buy the darn thing. It's cheap and I need the money.

mr. chevron is angry (note the angry devil smiley)!

by the way, massive props to you as well, mr. chevron. this song is the gem of "If I Should Fall from Grace with God."

**Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:21 pm**

Scotty Anxiety wrote:How much money do you make of one song on a various artists compilation anyways? I have no problem giving you my money, (hell I bought all 7 pogues reissues the first day I saw them... (at import prices ) even bought them from the evil Tower records! but I am curious... did not mean to offend you. Just have a curious ear.

scott

curious is such a cool word.

**Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:23 pm**

random...

**Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:48 pm**

philipchevron wrote:Shane did not like singing the final chorus "Wherever we go we celebrate/the Land that makes us refugees/From fear of priests with empty plates/From guilt/And weeping effigies" as I think it ran counter-intuitive to his own brand of Nationalism. . . .

As it happens, I never sing the final chorus myself with The Pogues because I know that audiences like singing the "thousands are sailing" bits. I sing instead the version I rewrote for Shane to sing. However, I ALWAYS include it when I sing it solo or when I'm working with Terry Woods, Ronnie Drew etc.

I was surprised and delighted to hear you sing this final chorus last Wednesday in Glasgow. I didn't catch the chorus before it, and didn't recognize it, and am wondering if there wasn't a new one written for this year's shows?

Thousands Are Sailing

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