The Pogues were founded in King's Cross, a district in north London, in 1982 as Pogue Mahone - "pogue mahone" being the Anglicisation of the Irish póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse". The band specialised in Irish folk music, often playing with the energy of the punk rock scene from which several of the members had their roots.
Their politically-tinged music was reminiscent of The Clash, with whom they played (Joe Strummer produced one of their albums and even joined the group briefly), and used traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin, accordion, and more. In the later incarnations of the band, after the departure of Shane MacGowan, electronic instruments such as the electric guitar would become more prominent. The first of The Pogues' albums, Red Roses for Me, borrows much from the punk tradition of MacGowan's previous band The Nipple Erectors (later dubbed The Nips).
Band history
Shane MacGowan (vocals), James Fearnley (accordion) and Spider Stacy (tin whistle) were the original members of the Pogues, in the days when they busked on the streets of London. Before the rest of the group formed, MacGowan and Stacy were rumoured to have played impromptu performances on street corners and city buses which attracted local interest to their talent. They later added Jeremy 'Jem' Finer (guitar, banjo), Cait O'Riordan (bass) and Andrew Ranken (drums). The band rapidly developed a reputation, started releasing independent work, and ended up opening for The Clash on tour in 1984. Shortening their name to "The Pogues" due to lack of radio play for the curse in their name, they released their first album Red Roses for Me that October.
Phil Chevron (guitar) joined the group soon after, then with the aid of punk and new wave forefather Elvis Costello they recorded the follow up, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, in 1985 (The album title is a famous comment attributed, probably falsely, to Winston Churchill and others in describing the traditions of the British Royal Navy). The album cover featured The Raft of the Medusa, though the faces on the characters in Géricault's painting have been replaced with those of the band members. While the first album had featured a higher percentage of traditional songs, Shane MacGowan came into his own as a songwriter with this disc, offering up poetic story-telling, such as "The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn" and "The Old Main Drag," as well as definitive interpretations of Ewan MacColl's "Dirty Old Town" and Eric Bogle's "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda," the latter of which has become more popular than the original recording.
The band failed to take advantage of the momentum created by the strong artistic and commercial success of their second album. They first refused to record another album (offering up the 4 track EP Poguetry in Motion instead); O'Riordan married Costello and left the band, to be replaced by bassist Darryl Hunt; and they added a multi-instrumentalist in Terry Woods, formerly of Steeleye Span. Looming over the band at this period (as throughout their entire career) was the increasingly erratic behaviour of their vocalist, principal songwriter and creative visionary, Shane MacGowan.
Success & breakup
The band remained stable enough to record If I Should Fall from Grace with God in 1988 (with its Christmas hit duet with Kirsty MacColl "Fairytale of New York") and 1989's Peace and Love. The band was at the peak of its commercial success, with both albums making the top 5 in the UK (nos. 3 and 5 respectively), but MacGowan was spiralling out of control. Following their next album, Hell's Ditch, MacGowan and the band parted company in 1991.
With his departure, the band was thrown into a state of flux. Without their singer, vocal duties were for a time handled by Joe Strummer, before Stacy finally took over permanently. Two politely received albums followed, the first of which, Waiting for Herb, contained the band's third and final top twenty single, "Tuesday Morning" which became their best selling single internationally. In 1996, the Pogues disbanded with just three members remaining.
Post breakup
Shane MacGowan founded Shane MacGowan and The Popes in 1994. They recorded two studio albums in the period up to their split in 2002. MacGowan's autobiography, A Drink With Shane MacGowan, co-written with his journalist girlfriend Victoria Mary Clarke, appeared in 2001. During this time the three other long-term members of the Pogues (Spider Stacy, Andrew Ranken and Darryl Hunt) played together briefly as the Vendettas.
Reunion
The band, including MacGowan, re-formed for a Christmas tour in 2001 and performed 9 shows in the UK in December [2004]. In 2002 Q magazine named The Pogues as one of the "50 Bands To See Before You Die". Also in December 2004, VH1 Conducted a poll to find the best Christmas song ever, with "Fairytale of New York" coming number one with 2,650 of the 10,000 votes cast - over 25%. In early 2005, VH1 conducted another poll to find the 100 greatest number ones that never Were, With The Pogues coming in at number 27.
In July 2005, the band - again including MacGowan - played at the annual Guilfest festival in Guildford before flying out to Japan where they played three dates. Japan is the last place they all played together before MacGowan was originally sacked in 1991, and they have a strong following there. They played a date in Spain in early September. The reunited Pogues played dates in the UK with support from the Dropkick Murphys in late 2005, and re-released their 1987 Christmas classic "Fairytale Of New York" on 19th December, which went straight in at #3 in the UK Singles charts on Christmas Day 2005, showing the song's enduring popularity. On December 22nd 2005 the BBC broadcast a live performance (recorded the previous week) on the Jonathan Ross Christmas show with Katie Melua. "Fairytale of New York" was voted the greatest Christmas Record of all time for the second year running in a poll by UK Music Channel VH1, with "Fairytale of New York" taking in a whopping 39% of the overall vote.
The band was awarded the life-time achievement award at the annual Meteor Ireland Music Awards in February 2006.
In March 2011, the Pogues played a six-city/ten-show sell-out US tour titled "A Parting Glass with The Pogues". In August 2012, The Pogues undertook a 30th Anniversary European Tour.
Discography
Albums
Red Roses for Me - 1984, #89 UK
Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash - 1985, #13 UK
Poguetry in Motion (EP) - 1986, #29
If I Should Fall from Grace with God - 1988, #3 UK, #88 US
Peace and Love - 1989, #5 UK
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah (EP) - 1990, #43 UK
Hell's Ditch - 1990, #11 UK
Waiting for Herb - 1993, #20 UK
Pogue Mahone - 1996
The Best of The Pogues - 1991, #11 UK
The Rest of the Best - 1992
The Very Best of The Pogues - 2001, #18
The Ultimate Collection including Live at the Brixton Academy - 2001, #15 UK
Dirty Old Town: The Platinum Collection
The Leaving of Liverpool
The Pogues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mersey River, fare thee well.
Well, I am bound for California, but I know that I'll return someday.
Chorus:
So fare thee well, my own true love.
When I return united we will be.
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me, but my darling when I think of thee.
Oh, I have signed on the yankee sailin' ship.
Davy Crockett is her name.
And Burgess is the captain of her, and they say that she's a floatin? shame.
Chorus
Oh, I have sailed with this Burgess once before, and I think that I know him quite well.
For if a man is a sailor, he can get along. If not, he's in a floating Hell
Chorus
The sun is on the harbor, love.
And I wish that I could be thain.
Because I know it will be some long, long time before we see you again.
The Pogues' song "The Leaving of Liverpool" tells the story of a sailor who is reluctantly leaving his beloved Liverpool to embark on a journey to California. The first verse sets the scene of the departure from the Prince's Landing Stage while bidding farewell to the Mersey River, a symbol of Liverpool's heritage, as well as the sailor's home. The sailor knows that he will return someday, though leaving his true love behind is what makes the departure bittersweet.
The chorus of the song addresses the sailor's lover, promising to return home one day and rekindle their love. He reminds his lover that it's not the actual act of leaving Liverpool that causes him distress, but rather the thought of being away from her.
In the second verse, the sailor talks about the ship he's joining - the Yankee sailing ship named Davy Crockett. Burgess, the captain of the ship, has a reputation for running a difficult ship. The sailor knows him well, having sailed with him before. The last verse expresses the sailor's longing for his lover, wishing he could be with her on this sunny day at the harbor.
Overall, "The Leaving of Liverpool" is a sad but hopeful song about leaving home and loved ones behind for the promise of adventure and opportunity. Perhaps more importantly, it also emphasizes the strength of love and the hope of return.
Line by Line Meaning
Fare thee well to Prince's Landing Stage.
Goodbye to the docks at Prince's Landing Stage where ships depart.
Mersey River, fare thee well.
Goodbye to the Mersey River which flows by the docks.
Well, I am bound for California, but I know that I'll return someday.
I am leaving for California, but I hope to come back someday.
Chorus: So fare thee well, my own true love. When I return united we will be. It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me, but my darling when I think of thee.
Goodbye my true love, we will be together when I return. It's not leaving Liverpool that makes me sad, but thinking of my loved one.
Oh, I have signed on the yankee sailin' ship. Davy Crockett is her name. And Burgess is the captain of her, and they say that she's a floatin? shame.
I have joined a Yankee sailing ship called the Davy Crockett. Burgess is the captain and people say the ship is not good.
Chorus
Repeats the chorus from earlier.
Oh, I have sailed with this Burgess once before, and I think that I know him quite well. For if a man is a sailor, he can get along. If not, he's in a floating Hell
I have sailed with this Captain Burgess before and I feel like I know him well. If someone is a good sailor, they will be fine, but if not, being on a ship is a nightmare.
Chorus
Repeats the chorus from earlier.
The sun is on the harbor, love. And I wish that I could be thain. Because I know it will be some long, long time before we see you again.
The sun is shining on the harbor and I wish I could stay there with my loved one. I know it will be a long time before I see you again.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FINBARR CORMAC ROBERT CLANCY, EWAN MARTIN JOEL COWLEY, BRIAN JOSEPH DUNPHY, MARTIN THOMAS FUREY, DARREN RICHARD HOLDEN, MARK MURPHY, N UNKNOWN WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@franciscahill2026
Fare thee well to Prince's Landing Stage
River Mersey, fare thee well
I am bound for California
It's a place that I know right well
So fare thee well, my own true love
And when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
I have signed on a Yankee clipper ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her
And they say that she's a floating shame
So fare thee well, my own true love
And when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
I have sailed with Burgess once before
He's a man that I know right well
If a man is a sailor, he can get along
And if not, then he is sure in Hell
So fare thee well, my own true love
And when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
Oh the sun is on the harbour, love
And I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long, long time
Before I see you again
So fare thee well, my own true love
And when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
So fare thee well, my own true love
And when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
@pedrodelorno8655
This great poet singer will stay in my heart for EVER!!! RIP SHANE
@pikehead1
great fucking song and yes I'm pissed so fucking what!!
@johnlavelle6566
The only way to listen to The Pogues
@chrismcgreevy2234
if i knew how - unidentified - buttocks would be posted - too white
@chrismcgreevy2234
not racist - just smack into a 40 ft - and see - just the beauty of humans - job me barmey - ty to all the staff - in MT CARMEL AND BLANCH HOSPITAL - GOLDEN
@sandramiles4607
Where you from and what are origins of name x
@Punxerklc
Fare thee well Shane, and thank you for everything
@rosbifle413
Great anthem for all of us scousers far from home. Some of us stuck overseas. Liverpool will always be in our hearts. Love yous all. Good night and God bless.
@germansoulkitchen
Weirdly enough, the first time I heard this song was in June 2015 in a Pub in Baltimore, Ireland. And that’s strange enough, me being from Germany. But it set the mood for the whole trip... and it’s not the leaving of Ireland that grieves me, but my darling when I think of the beautiful people of Ireland 🍀
@jamesharrington4752
Thank you very much for your kind words about the Irish people.