Turkish Song Of The Damned
The Pogues feat. Joe Strummer Lyrics


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I come old friend from Hell tonight
Across the rotting sea
Nor the nails of the cross
Nor the blood of Christ
Can bring you help this eve
The dead have come to claim a debt from thee
They stand outside your door
Four score and three
Did you keep a watch for the dead man's wind
Did you see the woman with the comb in her hand
Wailing away on the wall on the strand
As you danced to the Turkish song of the damned

You remember when the ship went down
You left me on the deck
The captain's corpse jumped up
And threw his arms around my neck
For all these years I've had him on my back
This debt cannot be paid with all your jack

And as I sit and talk to you I see your face go white
This shadow hanging over me
Is no trick of the light




The spectre on my back will soon be free
The dead have come to claim a debt from thee

Overall Meaning

The Pogues (With Joe Strummer)'s song Turkish Song Of The Damned is a haunting tale of a man being visited by the dead who have come to claim a debt from him. The singer in the song tells his old friend that he has come from Hell and that nothing, not even the nails of the cross or the blood of Christ, can help him now. The dead have come to claim their debt and they will not be denied. The singer reminds his friend of the night they danced to the Turkish song of the damned, and warns him that the woman who wailed away on the wall on the strand that night has come to collect.


As the song progresses, we learn that the debt in question is related to a shipwreck that occurred many years ago. The singer was left on board the sinking ship by his friend, who escaped safely. In the chaos that followed, the captain's corpse came back to life and clung to the singer's back. Now, years later, the dead have come to collect the debt owed by the singer's friend.


The lyrics to Turkish Song Of The Damned are open to interpretation, but they seem to be a warning about the consequences of abandoning someone in need. They suggest that debts must be paid, even if it takes years for them to come due. The haunting melody of the song only adds to its eerie message and makes Turkish Song Of The Damned a standout track among The Pogues' many classics.


Line by Line Meaning

I come old friend from Hell tonight
I am a messenger from Hell, here to collect a debt.


Across the rotting sea
I have traveled far and wide to find you and collect what is owed to us.


Nor the nails of the cross
Even the power of Christianity cannot save you from our wrath.


Nor the blood of Christ
No amount of sacrifice can pay for what you owe us.


Can bring you help this eve
You are beyond redemption and cannot escape your fate.


The dead have come to claim a debt from thee
We have come to collect what you owe us, and you cannot refuse.


They stand outside your door
We are here, waiting for you to answer and face your fate.


Four score and three
Our wait for you has been long and we are counting every moment.


Did you keep a watch for the dead man's wind
Did you prepare for our arrival and the consequences of not paying your debt?


Did you see the woman with the comb in her hand
Did you witness the sorrow and pain that we have brought upon others?


Wailing away on the wall on the strand
Crying out for vengeance and closure, unable to move on until debts are paid.


As you danced to the Turkish song of the damned
Despite knowing what was to come, you were blinded by pleasures and indulgences.


You remember when the ship went down
You recall abandoning your obligations and responsibilities, leaving behind a catastrophe.


You left me on the deck
You left me behind, to suffer in the consequences of your actions.


The captain's corpse jumped up
Even in death, the captain still holds you accountable for his fate.


And threw his arms around my neck
The weight of his blame and resentment remains strong, threatening to overwhelm me.


For all these years I've had him on my back
I have been carrying the burden of your debt for far too long, and I can no longer do so.


This debt cannot be paid with all your jack
No amount of wealth or possessions can buy your way out of this debt.


And as I sit and talk to you I see your face go white
You finally realize the gravity of the situation and the consequences of your choices.


This shadow hanging over me
The weight of the debt and the guilt for your actions is suffocating and oppressive.


Is no trick of the light
This is not a temporary problem, but a permanent burden that you must face.


The spectre on my back will soon be free
I will no longer be able to bear the weight of your debt and will have to let it go.


The dead have come to claim a debt from thee
We have come to collect what you owe us, and there is no escape.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY MAX FINER, SHANE PATRICK LYSAGHT MACGOWAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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