The Medusa Fora

Yes, it's a generic Main Drag

i always thought it was Picadilly Circus aswell, "i went down to the dilly to check out the scene", i know that dilly is picadilly circus, so thats my assumption.

I think that, in this instance, the particular contains the universal. One 'Old Main Drag' being ALL 'Old Main Drags' as it were...

Anonymous wrote:i always thought it was Picadilly Circus aswell, "i went down to the dilly to check out the scene", i know that dilly is picadilly circus, so thats my assumption.

Yes, it sets the scene, but the song doesn't remain there, moving on to Leicester Square and Vine Street. Whatever else it is, I have never felt Piccadilly Circus to be the Main Drag of London. As the name gives a clue, it's circular, so it would be atypical if it were. In this context, the Old Main Drag is just the Central London parade ground in general. Shane keeps it relatively vague because, as Fintan suggests, the universal is evoked from the particular. In other words, the location is, in itself, a comparatively minor character in the song.

The Dilly (as in Piccadilly) is, or was in the 1970s at least, the principal "meat rack" for rent boys in London.

man was never meant to live in such great numbers
so close together
people begin to crush into each other

and when so many people who have problems live so close
like on old main drags
their problems crush into other problems
and that's how you get dilapidated messes like the people in the song
and almost like shane himself

The Old Main drag is certainly one of Shane´s darkest songs. But what about the incredible St John of Gods ? Beautiful Brutal Poetry I´d call it - really creating a full image of a down-at-the-heels person with just a few words.

I have to admit that I rather like Truck Drivin' Man. I think most people who hear the song would think the lyrics are offensive, but think more on the lines of The Sex Pistol's Belsen Was A Gas, shock value can carry a song, even if you don't represent or believe in the lyrics that you are saying. In this song Shane plays the part of a red neck truck driver down South and his experiences. I find the song to be quite entertaining and not even remotely racist.

Iain

My vote is for Lorca's Novena. A phenominally rich dark song.

The Dunes, then maybe Old Main Drag

"I saw dark shadows rise up from the sand
And dance all around the dunes
And they danced the rattling dance of the dead
To a set of mournful tunes
To a set of mournful tunes"
Quite dark

Eric V wrote:My vote is for Lorca's Novena. A phenominally rich dark song.

the level of historical accuracy
not in the events
but in the general feel of the song
the scents and visions implied in the lyrics

and then not to mention the brilliant choice of character in lorca
amazing plays, amazingly interpreted by macgowan