In 2003 lead singer Barney Murray left the band. Vocal duties were taken over by guitarist Dugs Mulhooly. Untill 2005 they underwent alot of line up changes, leaving Dugs and Chris (drums) as the only original members. In 2005 they released their third album Cashed Out On Culture, which had more of a punk-edge than their former two.
In 2006, whistle player Alan Confrey died from a heart attack tragically after the band returned home to Dublin after a UK tour with Stiff Little Fingers.
Early 2007 saw the departure of bassplayer and second vocalist Beano.
In december of the same year they supported The Pogues on one of their christmas shows.
Official Website
Bucharest
Blood or Whiskey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was just hoping to score
I was standing there broke
Laughing at some joke
When the world burst throught the door
I was dreaming of Stonehenge in '68
When I met your old dear
On a blind date
Shot in the head in a bar in Bucharest
Shot in the head in a bar in Bucharest
I was just hoping to score
Shot in the head in a bar in Bucharest
What was the promise you made
It was 14 years since I'd shed any tears
And even longer since I got laid
And it was only then
As I was lying there
I thought I really like to change
The style of my hair
Shot in the head in a bar in Bucharest
Blood went all over the floor
There was a four piece band
The biggest in the land
I heard the crowd call out for more
It was clear to me
Anyone could tell
That they had nothing to say
But they said it so well
The song "Bucharest" by Blood or Whiskey describes the singer's experience of being shot in the head while in a bar in the Romanian capital. The singer seems to have been there with the intention of finding someone to have a sexual encounter with, as he speaks of hoping to "score." He admits to being in a difficult financial situation, as he is "broke," and is able to find some humor in the situation, as he is "laughing at some joke" when the shooting takes place.
However, the main focus of the song is not on the events that led to the shooting, but on the singer's thoughts and reflections as he lies dying on the floor of the bar. He thinks back to a time in his youth when he was dreaming of visiting Stonehenge in 1968, and to a blind date he went on where he met someone's "old dear." He also reflects on the fact that it had been many years since he had cried or had any sexual contact, and considers making changes to his appearance before he dies.
As the song reaches its conclusion, the singer discusses the music being played in the bar at the time of the shooting. He notes that the band was the biggest in the land and that the crowd called out for more despite the tragedy that had just occurred. He seems to suggest a bit of irony in the fact that the band had "nothing to say," but said it well nevertheless.
Overall, "Bucharest" presents a dark, violent, and somewhat humorous picture of life on the fringes of society, and muses on the nature of existence and what, if anything, survives death.
Line by Line Meaning
Shot in the head in a bar in Bucharest
The singer was killed by a gunshot wound to the head while inside a bar in Bucharest.
I was just hoping to score
The singer had gone to the bar with the intent of finding sexual companionship.
I was standing there broke
The singer did not have any money at the time they were killed.
Laughing at some joke
The artist was amused by something humorous at the moment they were killed.
When the world burst throught the door
A chaotic situation unfolded in the bar, likely involving violence or conflict.
I was dreaming of Stonehenge in '68
The singer was having a nostalgic daydream about an event or place from 1968.
When I met your old dear
The singer encountered an older, possibly elderly person.
On a blind date
The artist had arranged to meet this person without knowing what they looked like or much about them.
What was the promise you made
The artist is asking someone about a promise they had made.
It was 14 years since I'd shed any tears
The artist had not cried in 14 years.
And even longer since I got laid
The singer had gone an extended period of time without engaging in sexual activity.
And it was only then
The realization the artist had about wanting to change their appearance and life came only after being shot and killed.
As I was lying there
The singer was lying on the ground, mortally wounded.
I thought I really like to change
The singer expressed a desire to reinvent themselves in some way.
The style of my hair
The singer specifically mentions changing their hairstyle as part of their desire to change.
Blood went all over the floor
When the artist was shot, their blood spilled and made a mess on the floor of the bar.
There was a four piece band
In the bar, there was a band consisting of four musicians.
The biggest in the land
This band was renowned for being one of the largest and most popular in the area.
I heard the crowd call out for more
Even as the singer lay dying, they could hear the audience cheering for the band to play more music.
It was clear to me
The artist understood without a doubt that the band had no real substance to their music or message.
Anyone could tell
The lack of depth in the band's music was so noticeable that anyone could recognize it.
That they had nothing to say
The band's lyrics were vapid and empty of any significant meaning.
But they said it so well
Despite the lack of depth in their music, the band was still able to convey their message effectively through their performance.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Larry Barnhill
it is impossible to only play this song only once in a row.
Raúl Cerezo
I agree
BmoreBusker
Agreed!
Jacob Edward
Anyone have the chords? Definitely G and D... Is it Em and C for the turnaround? Doesn't sound quite right..
Edit: Ok so I think it's Gflat, and also you always mute the high E string. So Gminor, Dminor, Gflat, Gminor