The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash (hear Sally MacLennane)
Shane MacGowan’s songs and singing make this a great album, the Pogues’ arrangements and playing make it a great album, the two together make it a classic.
But when it comes down to it, it’s the songs. I often gripe about well-made songs albums that just don’t have any songs in the first place. The Eels EP from 25 October comes to mind. It’s fine, it’s good, the songs are real songs, but there’s no fiber. MacGowan’s songs just kill.
What makes them better? To begin looking for an answer to that, I listened to “Sally MacLennane”. Originally, Sally MacLennane is a kind of stout, I imagine a good pub beer. But of course it’s also a name. So while ostensibly a song about a man leaving his barmates for a different life, the song is easily about Jimmy also leaving behind a sweet girl, who the narrator eventually marries. “I learned to love the virtues of sweet Sally MacLennane.”
At the same time, the song is about leaving life behind, and coming back in people’s memories as they get together to drink and reminisce.
… the point is, I can keep coming back to this song, hearing it from different angles… the sound of the words and choice of rhyming words also really sets the lyrics apart here (“born” “morn” “horn” makes me laff), and the music is on the other side of the map…
(via micek:)
1 year ago
