St. Patrick’s Day may be over, but our tribute to Shane MacGowen and The Pogues continues! Granted, The Pogues are one of those timeless bands that transcend any particular season (although their music is admittedly perfect for this time of the year, we digress). A great example of that comes from the opening title track of their breakthrough album If I Should Fall from Grace with God, released back in 1988.
While the song’s sound is characteristically joyful and upbeat, its subject matter is somewhat bittersweet and morbid. It effectively stares death directly in the eye and offers a hearty and defiant “fuck you” whilst celebrating and embracing the triumphs and tribulations of life itself. It exudes the gritty, heartfelt humanity that characterized so many of MacGowen’s songs, which is part of why he was such a revered and beloved figure not just in Ireland but in the broader punk-rock community at large. Checkout this classic video of the band performing the track live and it’s easy to see why. R.I.P. Shane:
