The Pogues are known as one of the most radical punk groups of the 80’s. Founded by Shane MacGowan in 1982 with Peter, Spider, Stacy and Jim Fearnley. They originally called themselves Pogue Mohone, an Irish phrase meaning “kiss my ass.” They then added Jem Finer, Andrew David Ranken, and Cait O’Riordan to complete the group. They shortened their name to just the Pogues and released their first single “Dark Streets of London” in 1984.
Pictured above is the full group.
From there they amounted a large amount of success in both the U.K. and the United States, went through many lineup changes and the lead singer of the band, MacGowan, fell head first into a drug and alcohol problem that proved to be the band’s undoing. MacGowan was asked to leave the band in 91, and the Pogues that remained disbanded in 1996. The entire group including MacGowan reunited in 2001 for a short tour, and they continued to make appearances together into the mid-2000’s. Recently they released a 30th anniversary live concert album, and a 30 year box set that spans their career together.
Pictured above is The Pogues on stage during one of their reunions.
If you are more interested in MacGowan’s drug and alcohol addiction, and the further stresses that come from being famous click here.
“Young Ned of the Hill” is an adaptation of an old Irish folk song that The Pogues did in 1989 for their album Peace and Love. They adapted it from the song “Éamonn Ó Chnoic” (Ned of the Hill) which is traditionally performed slower and doesn’t have a chorus.
“Éamonn Ó Chnoic” is about a man who comes to a woman’s door and seeking shelter. It appears that he has been traveling and has lost his team of horses and now has nowhere to go. The last stanza of the song says that he “must go eastward across the sea” which suggests that he is either going to England or perhaps to the prison colony of Australia. It is a stark contrast to The Pogues’ version of the song.
Above is “Éamonn Ó Chnoic” performed by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in Gaelic. To the lyrics in english click here.
“Young Ned of the Hill” is a song about the 1940’s conquest of Oliver Cromwell and those who fought against him. It paints a picture of brave Irishmen with “wills of iron” marching to fight the English invaders with “gaelic honour held high.” The last verse of song discusses how they were robbed and drove away from their land, but they”ll never understand the “love of old dear Ireland.” It suggests that as long as Ireland is producing strong men that it will always be a threat to England. It’s interesting because it reminds me of the old Irish folk songs that always promised that Ireland will rise again stronger and better than before. “Young Ned of the Hill” is the kind of song that, had been written a few decades earlier, Padraig Pearse would have used to inspire people to join the rebellion.
Above is “Young Ned of the Hill” performed by The Pogues.
Groups like The Pogues changed the meaning of the term Irish music. No longer was it just old rebellion folk songs, or Irish love songs based off of poems. It was music inspired not by the loss of a war but music written from the core of human emotion. 80’s Irish music explored a new side of what it meant to be Irish.
Of course many songs still describing dealing with suffering over one thing or another, they are still Irish after all. But the sentiments have changed, instead of writing to incite rebellion they now write to incite feelings of love and to describe coping with the loss of a loved one. Not to say that the old traditions are dead though, The Pogues have been known to adapt some folk songs however, the bands of the 80’s and 90’s mark a change from what would be considered traditional Irish music and opened up the world to Irish punk.
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Citations:
Simpson, Dave. “Old Habits Die Hard.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 25 Nov. 2004. Web. 13 Dec. 2016.
Erlewine, Stephen. “The Pogues: Biography.” Allmusic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2016.