To me, it's a song of contrasts. Yes, it talks about striving to survive in a dingy, factory town. But he also talks of smelling the spring air on the smoke. And kissing his girl by the factory wall. Beautiful things exist even in the bleakest of circumstances. A tree grows in Brooklyn. 🥲
The man who wrote this was a working class communist from the north of England. Hence the lyric about wanting to cut the town like an old dead tree - the town was Sallford in Lancashire. He also wrote "The First Time I Saw Your Face" famously covered by Roberta Flack about the woman he fell in love with. That woman's daughter , his step-daughter, sang with Shane the Fairytale of New York.
Yo.... I decided to subscribe as I like the range of material you choose to react to. Both Kirsty and Shane have passed but their duet on Shane's composition will live forever. Shane is an Irish songwriting icon. I Would love to hear your reaction to another Irish icon: Imelda May. She is an amazing songwriter, singer, arranger, and producer. Her original material ranges from Rock-a- Billy (Johnny got a boom boom) to torch ballads (black tears) and fantastic covers like Kermit's "it ain't easy being green", U2s "still haven't found what I am looking for", or Les Paul and Mary Ford's "how high the moon" with the late, great Jeff Beck. Fair winds and Happy New Year.
Check out the Irish descendants. A band out of Newfoundland Canada. Newfoundland is basically the most Irish place you will find that’s not in Ireland. The accents, dialects, music, way of living is heavily influenced by the early Irish settlers. The Irish descendants I believe do the best job of Dirty Old Town. Give it a listen and see for your self.
@stevewilkos123......irish music was heavily influenced by scottish music. also, the scots were before the irish in newfoundland or newfundland as how we pronounce it in scotland. dirty old town was written about ten years before "irish" music was born.
This was composed by an Englishman about the town Salford in England.🇬🇧
Rest in Peace Shane McGowan who sadly passed on 28th November. A true Irish legend.
To me, it's a song of contrasts. Yes, it talks about striving to survive in a dingy, factory town. But he also talks of smelling the spring air on the smoke. And kissing his girl by the factory wall. Beautiful things exist even in the bleakest of circumstances. A tree grows in Brooklyn. 🥲
The man who wrote this was a working class communist from the north of England. Hence the lyric about wanting to cut the town like an old dead tree - the town was Sallford in Lancashire. He also wrote "The First Time I Saw Your Face" famously covered by Roberta Flack about the woman he fell in love with. That woman's daughter , his step-daughter, sang with Shane the Fairytale of New York.
Yo.... I decided to subscribe as I like the range of material you choose to react to. Both Kirsty and Shane have passed but their duet on Shane's composition will live forever. Shane is an Irish songwriting icon. I Would love to hear your reaction to another Irish icon: Imelda May. She is an amazing songwriter, singer, arranger, and producer. Her original material ranges from Rock-a- Billy (Johnny got a boom boom) to torch ballads (black tears) and fantastic covers like Kermit's "it ain't easy being green", U2s "still haven't found what I am looking for", or Les Paul and Mary Ford's "how high the moon" with the late, great Jeff Beck. Fair winds and Happy New Year.
Dirty old town is Salford northern England 👌
Ewan Maccol was the father of kirsty Maccol who duets on fairytale of Newyork,the pogues did dirty old town at Ewans funeral
Rip Shane.
Frank Black (Pixies) covered this on his solo album "Fastman/Raiderman".
Try the Pogues "Streams of Whiskey"
That’s the unofficial Detroit City FC song!
Ha!!! I’ll probably recognize it next time I take in a game
Dude if you want to go back from the pogues check out the wolftones or the Dubliners
KIRSTY MacColl, not Kristy! English not Irish.
Check out the Irish descendants. A band out of Newfoundland Canada. Newfoundland is basically the most Irish place you will find that’s not in Ireland. The accents, dialects, music, way of living is heavily influenced by the early Irish settlers. The Irish descendants I believe do the best job of Dirty Old Town. Give it a listen and see for your self.
@stevewilkos123......irish music was heavily influenced by scottish music. also, the scots were before the irish in newfoundland or newfundland as how we pronounce it in scotland. dirty old town was written about ten years before "irish" music was born.
Rip ,shane MCGOWAN, great song about salford,not Ireland
Ewan MacColl was actually Scottish, but while I'm here can I recommend you react to Sally Maclennane a truly great pogues song
Great information, thank you! Check out my reaction to the live version of Sally Maclennane! ruclips.net/video/DtPr-nq_Yjg/видео.html
Ewan was born and bred in Salford to Scottish Parents. The song is about Salford where he grew up.