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List of songs recorded by the Pogues

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The band The Pogues performing live
The Pogues performing in Munich in 2011. From left to right: Philip Chevron, James Fearnley, Andrew Ranken, Shane MacGowan, Darryl Hunt, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer.

The Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band the Pogues recorded songs for seven studio albums as well as one extended play (EP) and many singles. Having played together occasionally since the late 1970s, Shane MacGowan (vocals), Peter "Spider" Stacy (tin whistle), and Jem Finer (banjo) formed the band in 1982 along with James Fearnley (accordion), initially under the name Pogue Mahone, an anglicisation of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse". Cait O'Riordan (bass guitar) and Andrew Ranken (drums) had joined by the time of the band's debut album, Red Roses for Me (1984). The album mixed the band's interpretations of traditional British and Irish folk songs such as "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway" and "Greenland Whale Fisheries" with original tracks written by MacGowan. The band's second album, Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985), included cover versions of songs by the folk singers Ewan MacColl and Eric Bogle.

If I Should Fall from Grace with God (1988) incorporated a wider of range of musical styles. including Turkish and Spanish influences on the tracks "Turkish Song of the Damned" and "Fiesta" respectively, and songs written by newer band members Philip Chevron and Terry Woods. The album also included the song "Fairytale of New York", featuring guest vocals by Kirsty MacColl, which reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and has come to be regarded as a classic Christmas song, regularly placing highly in polls of the greatest seasonal songs of all time. The album also featured the track "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six", which proved controversial for its lyrical support of the Birmingham Six, a group of Irishmen imprisoned for terrorism offences in relation to the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings. MacGowan's role in songwriting within the band continued to reduce with their fourth album, Peace and Love (1989), which for the first time featured more songs written by other members of the band than by him; the album was also the band's first not to feature versions of any traditional songs. Although MacGowan again wrote the majority of the songs on the band's next album, Hell's Ditch (1990), it proved to be his last with the band, as he was expelled from the group the following year due to his unreliability and substance abuse issues. Stacy took over as lead vocalist for the group's sixth album, Waiting for Herb (1993), for which Finer wrote the majority of the songs. After the 1996 album Pogue Mahone, which included versions of songs originally recorded by Ronnie Lane and Bob Dylan, the band broke up, although they reunited for live shows in 2001 and most recently performed in 2024, commemorating MacGowan, who had died the previous year.

The band also recorded songs not included on their seven studio albums, including many which appeared as the B-sides of singles. They contributed original songs to the soundtracks of the films Sid and Nancy and Straight to Hell, in the latter of which several members of the band also acted. On several occasions, they recorded collaborations with the Irish band the Dubliners. In 2008, many previously unreleased songs recorded by the band throughout their career were made available in the box set Just Look Them Straight in the Eye and Say... Pogue Mahone!!

Songs

[edit]
Singer Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan wrote the majority of the band's original songs.
Singer Jem Finer
Jem Finer co-wrote the band's highest-charting single, "Fairytale of New York".
Singer Spider Stacy
Spider Stacy wrote the song "Jack's Heroes", a tribute to the Republic of Ireland national football team.
Songwriter Edward Harrigan
The Pogues recorded a version of "The Rare Old Mountain Dew", written by Edward Harrigan.
Singer Bob Dylan
The band recorded a version of Bob Dylan's "When the Ship Comes In" on their final studio album.
Musicians Keith Richards and Mick Jagger
The Pogues covered the song "Honky Tonk Women", written by Keith Richard (left) and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.
Name of song, credited writer(s), originating album, and year of release
Song Writer(s) Album Year Ref.
"5 Green Queens and Jean" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Amadie" Andrew Ranken Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" Eric Bogle Rum Sodomy & the Lash[a] 1985 [3]
"Anniversary" Jem Finer Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"The Auld Triangle" Brendan Behan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"The Battle March Medley" Terry Woods If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988
"The Battle of Brisbane" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Big City" Darryl Hunt Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Billy's Bones" Shane MacGowan Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Blue Heaven" Philip Chevron
Darryl Hunt 		Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Boat Train" Shane MacGowan Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"The Body of an American" Shane MacGowan Poguetry in Motion (EP)[b] 1986 [7]
"Bottle of Smoke" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Boys from the County Hell" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Bright Lights" Jem Finer Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"The Broad Majestic Shannon" Shane MacGowan If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Cotton Fields" Shane MacGowan Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Dark Streets of London" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Dingle Regatta" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Dirty Old Town" Ewan MacColl Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Down All the Days" Shane MacGowan Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Drunken Boat" James Fearnley Waiting for Herb 1993 [5][9]
"Everyman is a King" Terry Woods
Ron Kavana 		None[c] 1989
"Fairytale of New York"[d] Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Fiesta" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Four O'Clock in the Morning" Andrew Ranken Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Gartloney Rats" Terry Woods Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"The Gentleman Soldier" Traditional Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"The Ghost of a Smile" Shane MacGowan Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Girl from the Wadi Hammamat" Jem Finer
Andrew Ranken 		Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Greenland Whale Fisheries" Traditional Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Gridlock" Jem Finer
Andrew Ranken 		Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Haunted" 1986 [5]
"Haunting" Terry Woods Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Hell's Ditch" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Honky Tonk Women" Mick Jagger
Keith Richards 		None[e] 1988
"How Come" Ronnie Lane
Kevin Westlake 		Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"House of the Gods" Shane MacGowan Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"If I Should Fall from Grace with God" Shane MacGowan If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" Traditional Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"The Irish Rover"[f] Traditional 25 Years Celebration[g] 1987
"Jack's Heroes"[f] Spider Stacy None[h] 1990
"Jesse James" Traditional Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Johnny Come Lately"[i] Copperhead Road 1988
"Kitty" Traditional Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"The Leaving of Liverpool" Traditional None[j] 1985
"The Limerick Rake" Traditional None[k] 1988
"Living in a World Without Her" Darryl Hunt
James McNally 		Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"London Girl" Shane MacGowan Poguetry in Motion (EP)[b] 1986 [7]
"London You're a Lady" Shane MacGowan Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Lorca's Novena" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Lorelei" Philip Chevron Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Love You 'Till the End" Darryl Hunt Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Lullaby of London" Shane MacGowan If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Maggie May" Martin Quittenton
Rod Stewart


"Maidrin Rua" Traditional Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/
The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races" 		Traditional If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Metropolis" Jem Finer If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Miss Otis Regrets / Just One of Those Things"[d] Cole Porter Red Hot + Blue 1990
"Misty Morning, Albert Bridge" Jem Finer Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Modern World" Darryl Hunt Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Mountain Dew"[f] Edward Harrigan 25 Years Celebration[g] 1987
"Muirshin Durkin" Traditional None[l] 1985
"My Baby's Gone" Jem Finer
Andrew Ranken 		Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Navigator" Philip Gaston Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Night Train to Lorca" Jem Finer Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"The Old Main Drag" Shane MacGowan Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Once Upon a Time" Jem Finer Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Oretown" Jem Finer Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Pachinko" Jem Finer Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"A Pair of Brown Eyes" Shane MacGowan Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"The Parting Glass" Traditional None[m] 1985 [3]
"A Pistol for Paddy Garcia" Jem Finer None[n] 1985
"Planxty Noel Hill" Jem Finer Poguetry in Motion (EP)[b] 1986 [7]
"Pont Mirabeau" Jem Finer Pogue Mahone 1996 [2][10]
"Poor Paddy" Traditional Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Rain Street" Shane MacGowan Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Rainbow Man" Terry Woods Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Rainy Night in Soho" Shane MacGowan Poguetry in Motion (EP)[b] 1986 [7]
"Repeal of the Licensing Laws" Spider Stacy None[o] 1984
"Sally MacLennane" Shane MacGowan Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Sayonara" Shane MacGowan Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Sea Shanty" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Shanne Bradley" Shane MacGowan None[p] 1987
"The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn" Shane MacGowan Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"Sit Down by the Fire" Shane MacGowan If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Sitting on Top of the World" James Fearnley
Jem Finer
Terry Woods 		Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Six to Go" Terry Woods Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Sketches of Spain" Jem Finer None[q] 1988
"Small Hours" Jem Finer Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Smell of Petroleum" Jem Finer Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"South Australia" Traditional If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Star of the County Down" Traditional None[r] 1989
"Streams of Whiskey" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six" Shane MacGowan
Terry Woods 		If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Summer in Siam" Shane MacGowan Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"The Sun and the Moon" James Clarke
Spider Stacy 		Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Sunny Side of the Street" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Thousands Are Sailing" Philip Chevron If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Tombstone" Jem Finer Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Tosspint" Jem Finer Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Transmetropolitan" Shane MacGowan Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"Tuesday Morning" Spider Stacy Waiting for Herb 1993 [5]
"Turkish Song of the Damned" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"USA" Shane MacGowan Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"The Wake of the Medusa" Jem Finer Hell's Ditch 1990 [1]
"Waxie's Dargle" Traditional Red Roses for Me 1984 [4]
"When the Ship Comes In" Bob Dylan Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Where the Love's Been Gone" Andrew Ranken
Steven Skull 		Pogue Mahone 1996 [2]
"Whiskey in the Jar"[f] Traditional None[h] 1990
"Whiskey You're the Devil" Traditional None[s] 1985
"White City" Shane MacGowan Peace and Love 1989 [6]
"Wild Cats of Kilkenny" Jem Finer
Shane MacGowan 		Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985 [3]
"The Wild Rover" Traditional None[t] 1985
"Worms" Traditional If I Should Fall from Grace with God 1988 [8]
"Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" Shane MacGowan None[u] 1988 [6]
"Young Ned Of The Hill" Terry Woods
Ron Kavana 		Peace and Love 1989 [6]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ A different recording of the song, listed as "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", was released as the B-side of the "Dark Streets of London" single in 1984. This version was added to later releases of the Red Roses for Me album.
  2. ^ a b c d All four tracks on the Poguetry in Motion EP were added to later releases of the Rum Sodomy & the Lash album.
  3. ^ "Everyman is a King" was released as the B-side of the "White City" single in 1989. It was added to later releases of the Peace and Love album.
  4. ^ a b Featured vocals by Kirsty MacColl
  5. ^ "Honky Tonk Women" (mis-spelt as "Honky Tonk Woman") was released as the B-side of the non-album "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" single in 1988. It was released as a single in its own right (with its title spelt correctly) in 1992 and added to later releases of the "Peace and Love" album.
  6. ^ a b c d Collaboration with the Dubliners
  7. ^ a b "The Irish Rover" and "Mountain Dew" were added to later releases of the "If I Should Fall From Grace with God" album.
  8. ^ a b "Jack's Heroes" and "Whiskey in the Jar" were released as a double A-sided non-album single in 1990.
  9. ^ Steve Earle featuring the Pogues
  10. ^ "The Leaving of Liverpool" was released as the B-side of the "Sally MacLennane" single in 1985. It was added to later releases of the Red Roses for Me album.
  11. ^ "The Limerick Rake" was released as the B-side of the non-album "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" single in 1988. It was added to later releases of the Peace and Love album.
  12. ^ "Muirshin Durkin" was released as the B-side of the "A Pair of Brown Eyes" single in 1985. It was added to later releases of the Red Roses for Me album.
  13. ^ "The Parting Glass" was released as the B-side of the "Dirty Old Town" single in 1985. It was added to later releases of the Rum Sodomy & the Lash album.
  14. ^ "A Pistol for Paddy Garcia" was released as the B-side of the "Dirty Old Town" single in 1985. It was added to later releases of the Rum Sodomy & the Lash album.
  15. ^ "Repeal of the Licensing Laws" was released as the B-side of the "Boys from the County Hell" single in 1984. It was added to later releases of the Red Roses for Me album.
  16. ^ "Shanne Bradley" was released as the B-side of the "Fairytale of New York" single in 1987. It was added to later releases of the If I Should Fall from Grace with God album.
  17. ^ "Sketches of Spain" was released as the B-side of the "Fiesta" single in 1988. It was added to later releases of the If I Should Fall from Grace with God album.
  18. ^ "Star of the County Down" was released as the B-side of the "White City" single in 1989. It was added to later releases of the Peace and Love album.
  19. ^ "Whiskey You're the Devil" was released as the B-side of the "A Pair of Brown Eyes" single in 1985. It was added to later releases of the Red Roses for Me album.
  20. ^ "The Wild Rover" was released as the B-side of the "Sally MacLennane" single in 1985. It was added to later releases of the Red Roses for Me album.
  21. ^ "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" was released as a non-album single in 1988. It was added to later releases of the "Peace and Love" album.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Hell's Ditch - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Pogue Mahone - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Rum Sodomy & the Lash - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Red Roses for Me - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Waiting for Herb - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Peace and Love - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d "Poguetry in Motion - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "If I Should Fall from Grace with God - The Pogues". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  9. ^ Moran, Fran (19 January 2001). "Waiting for Herb". The Parting Glass: An Annotated Pogues Lyrics Page. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  10. ^ Moran, Fran (5 August 2000). "Pogue Mahone". The Parting Glass: An Annotated Pogues Lyrics Page. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
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