MacGowan drew on his Irish heritage to create The Pogues, a band that he founded, but from which he was away during a long hiatus in the 1990s. Many of his songs are influenced by Irish nationalism, Irish history, the experiences of the Irish in London and in London life in general.
After leaving The Pogues, he formed a new band, Shane MacGowan and The Popes. He no longer plays with them and has recently had numerous successful reunion tours through 2004 -2010 with The Pogues.
Shane has been guesting with Sharon Shannon and her Big Band since 2007. The first tour came about when MacGowan's manager approached Sharon's manager saying that the singer/songwriter was interested in doing a guest spot with the Sharon Shannon Big Band. Shane was looking at this as an opportunity to do stuff other than The Pogues' songs with musicians that had become kind of living legends of Irish contemporary music. That tour (together with Mundy, Damien Dempsey and Dessie O'Halloran, covering 5 Irish dates around New Year) had an enormous success so new dates seemed to be inevitable and they did follow.
During 2008 Shane together with Sharon, her 24 strong Big Band and various guests played numerous festivals in the UK and Ireland and finished the year with another successful Irish tour.
2009 has brought new releases in collaborations with his long time friends and admirers - The Mighty Stef, Mundy, Sharon Shannon, The Popes. And more dates – short UK tour in April (with Camille O’Sullivan), MayDay Mayhem in Dublin, another bunch of festivals in August, with one European date. And as a crown of the year - Saints & Scoundrels post-Christmas Irish tour again (named after the newly released and critically aclaimed album by Sharon Shannon and her friends). Season celebration with Sharon, Shane, Mundy to "Fairytale of New York" and "Galway Girl" is turning into an annual tradition. Even TG4 regarded it as the best way to ring in the New Year and broadcasted the 2008 Killarney gig on the New Year's Eve.
January 2010... A mere two and half weeks after the calamitous events in Haiti, Shane MacGowan alongside a hitherto unseen musical line-up of like minded souls, friends and musicians entered a London studio to record a track, cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 1956 hit ‘I Put A Spell On You’, from which all proceeds go to Concern, a charity who have provided assistance to some of the poorest countries in the world including Haiti, even before the earthquake struck.
In May 2010 new albums by Alabama 3 "Revolver Soul" and Galia Arad "Ooh La Baby" were released. Both feature tracks recorded with Shane MacGowan's always unique participation.
August 2010 brought astonishing but long awaited news: next month Shane is playing two first gigs with his NEW BAND! featuring Sarge O'Hara (DC Nein, Tokyo Olympics) on keys, Joey Cahsman (The Fast Skirts, The Pogues) on whistle, and In Tua Nua and Gravediggers rhythm section Jack Dublin on bass and Paul Byrne on drums.
Truck Drivin' Man
Shane MacGowan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can hardly see the moon
Twilight error is my CB name
Drive a big Mack truck I got a truck stop dame
Got some bear on my trail
I pull over I think of jail
I said my name is Forrest Gump
I blew his guts out through his back
Heard his spine make a sickening crack
He's still wriggling, he ain't dead
Put the gun to his mouth, blew off his head
There's a lynching on highway nine
3 Niggers messin with white mans kind
Step on the gas, I'm just in time
To see them swingin while the cold wind whines
Shoot that shit boy, shoot that speed
Whip that bitch boy until she bleeds
Give some moonshine some more morphine
Another fix of Methedrine
Truck drivin man is what I am
Just give me pussy junk and gin
I'll pray to God to forgive my sins
Truck drivin man in the howling wind
The lyrics of Shane MacGowan's "Truck Drivin' Man" depict a dark, violent, and racist narrative of a truck driver's experiences on the road. The song's protagonist, named Twilight Error on his CB radio, narrates his depraved actions involving drug use, murder, and racism. The howling wind serves as a backdrop for the bleak and lonely life of the truck driver, as he drives his big Mack truck along the highway.
The opening verse of the song describes the dark and isolated world of the truck driver, where the howling wind and barely visible moon are his only companions. He introduces himself as Twilight Error and boasts about his relationship with a woman working at a truck stop. The second verse takes a violent turn as he describes being pursued by the police and his desperate attempt to evade them, including injuring an officer.
The third verse is arguably the most disturbing, as he narrates the execution of three black men who apparently were attempting to rob him. The use of racial slurs and the casual mention of lynching make it a disturbing and uncomfortable listen. The final verse ends on a somewhat nihilistic note, as the truck driver asks for forgiveness for his sins, which he has no intention of stopping.
Overall, the song is a disturbing and violent portrayal of life on the road for truck drivers. Despite the catchy tune, it leaves a strong sense of discomfort and unease when listened to closely.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the howling wind sings a lonesome tune
In the wind's mournful sound, I feel solitude and melancholy.
You can hardly see the moon
The night is so dark that the moon is scarcely visible.
Twilight error is my CB name
I go by the name "Twilight Error" on my CB radio.
Drive a big Mack truck I got a truck stop dame
I drive a huge Mack truck and have a woman waiting for me at a truck stop.
Got some bear on my trail
The police are chasing me.
I pull over I think of jail
I stop my truck and contemplate the possibility of being incarcerated.
I said my name is Forrest Gump
I use a fake name, "Forrest Gump" when speaking to the police.
Then I blew his arm off with my twelve gauge pump
I shot off the arm of a police officer with my shotgun.
I blew his guts out through his back
I shot him in the back and his insides spilled out.
Heard his spine make a sickening crack
I heard his spine snap in a gruesome manner.
He's still wriggling, he ain't dead
Despite being maimed, the officer is still alive and moving.
Put the gun to his mouth, blew off his head
I killed the officer by shooting off his head with my gun.
There's a lynching on highway nine
There's a group of people hanging from a tree on highway nine.
3 Niggers messin with white mans kind
Three black people are interfering with white interests.
Step on the gas, I'm just in time
I accelerate my truck and arrive at the scene at the perfect moment.
To see them swingin while the cold wind whines
I witness the hanging bodies swinging in the wind's mournful whine.
Shoot that shit boy, shoot that speed
Take drugs and stimulants to stay awake and alert.
Whip that bitch boy until she bleeds
Punish someone severely by beating them until they bleed.
Give some moonshine some more morphine
Administer more drugs to numb the pain and provide relief.
Another fix of Methedrine
Take more of the powerful stimulant Methedrine to stay awake and alert.
Truck drivin man is what I am
I am a man who drives a truck for a living.
Just give me pussy junk and gin
All I want is sex, drugs, and alcohol.
I'll pray to God to forgive my sins
Despite my actions, I still have faith in God and hope for forgiveness.
Truck drivin man in the howling wind
I am a truck driver facing the haunting sound of the wind.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@StarsideRelics
RIP Shane
@liamhughes1445
Shane macgowan is an absolute legend
@VALTERJONBURGESSIII
❤
@TheXanderama
top bhoy Macgowan
@adamblanco8306
Big Tom is still the king!
@charlesschaefer1974
show more. show less? there both the same!
give a kiss for our man shane
really
@PortlandMark67
Yes, it's offensive. It's Shane MacGowan. You can't take this drunk too seriously.
@k2l6nator
truckdrivers and SJWs hittin dat dislike button
@bladeandcloak666
k2l6nator totally agree
@didgit6495
Being afraid of words gives them more gravity. Let em fly! Lol!... pun intended