Callin… Read Full Bio ↴The Prodigals are a New York Irish band that started in 1997.
Calling their genre of music "jig punk", the Prodigals fall within a tradition epitomized by the Pogues and Black 47, merging traditional Irish melodic roots with rock rhythms. As of 2007, the band members are Gregory Grene (button accordion and lead vocals), Ed Kollar (bass and backup vocals), Dave Fahy (guitar and lead vocals), Darren Maloney (banjo), and Chris Higginbottom (drums). The Prodigals call Paddy Reilly's (the world's only all-draft Guinness bar) their home when in New York City. The band has its own distinctive sound, particularly distinguished by the lead melodic roles being filled by button-key accordion and bass along with the vocals, and has received substantial critical notice through the years.
Albums
* The Prodigals (1997)
* Go On (1999), effectively the band's breakout album
* Dreaming in Hell's Kitchen (2001, produced by Scottish fiddler and record producer Johnny Cunningham)
* Needs Must When the Devil Drives (2003, produced by Howie Beno, who notably also produced the Red Hot Chili Peppers single Give It Away Now)
* a live album/DVD, Beachland Bootleg (2005) recorded at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.
* Momentum (2006)
Quart of Gin
The Prodigals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See your dreams unravelling and nothing goes as planned
Cabs go by and you heave a sigh as you dream of a girl long gone
And all you see's a cup of tea when the whole long day is done.
Cheer up, chin up, dry up your tears and stick your head in sand
Walk away and talk away for what's to understand
The house is cold and the roof is old, the roof might well give in
But we don't give a damn we've a slice of ham and a quart of cork dry gin.
Dry your eye when you start to cry
Lie down upon the settee
Light up your fag and you take a drag
And you sit and watch the TV.
Watch the sinners and the saints,
and the saints who fall in sin,
For the heart that breaks and the thousand aches
There's a quart of cork dry gin.
There's a ghost beside my window, there's a ghost beside my bed
What I leave behind stays in my mind with the ghosts inside my head
I lift my load, look down the road, and ahead, behind's the same
When I start to run I've just begun to go the way I came.
At half-past-four they bar the door and the pub it empties fast.
I'd rather stay than walk away to the shadows of the past.
I hear their song and it's loud and strong, but I know when they begin
That their serenade will quickly fade with a quart of cork dry gin.
(chorus)
Willy was a little wild and he shot his neighbors dead
The lad was bad, but the judge was sad
and he wept as he shook his head
"My boy," says he, "there's clemency for many a venial sin
But if this is true I sentence you to dine with the cherebim."
"Well then, alas, it comes to pass that I must take my rest
Lay me down into the ground with a bottle on me chest.
I'd like a tune sung 'neath the moon by a maiden sweet and thin
And by my head when I am dead pour a quart of cork dry gin."
The Prodigals' song Quart of Gin tells the story of a man who is struggling with life's hardships and seeks solace in alcohol. The lyrics describe the hopelessness he feels as he watches his dreams fall apart, and the only escape he can find is through drinking heavily. The man sees the world as a bleak and hostile place, and the only thing he looks forward to at the end of the day is a drink of gin. The lyrics suggest that he is aware of the dangers of his drinking but cannot bring himself to stop.
The chorus of the song is a call to cheer up and ignore the problems of the world. The singer encourages the listener to dry their tears and stick their head in the sand, implying that ignorance is bliss. The lyrics suggest that the house is falling apart and the future is uncertain, but the singer is indifferent to it all because they have a quart of gin. The chorus reiterates the idea that the world is a cruel place and drinking is the only solace.
The verses of the song describe the man's struggles and his descent into alcoholism. The lyrics are poignant and vivid, depicting a hopeless situation with a measure of empathy. The song's melody and instrumentation are upbeat, creating a stark contrast with the gloomy lyrics. The Prodigals deliver a powerful message with Quart of Gin, highlighting the dangers of alcoholism and the difficulties of life.
Line by Line Meaning
See the raindrops start to fall, the man with outstretched hand
Observing the rain pouring down, a man begging for alms
See your dreams unravelling and nothing goes as planned
Your aspirations collapsing unanticipatedly
Cabs go by and you heave a sigh as you dream of a girl long gone
As taxis pass, you emit a sigh reminiscing about a former lover
And all you see's a cup of tea when the whole long day is done.
After a tiring day, you desire nothing but a hot cup of tea
Cheer up, chin up, dry up your tears and stick your head in sand
Stay optimistic, conceal your emotions, and ignore the reality
Walk away and talk away for what's to understand
Avoid the issue and engage in meaningless conversations
The house is cold and the roof is old, the roof might well give in
The house is frigid, and the roof's age suggests it may give way
But we don't give a damn we've a slice of ham and a quart of cork dry gin.
We don't care; we have sustenance and alcohol
Dry your eye when you start to cry
Don't shed a tear when you become emotional
Lie down upon the settee
Recline on the couch
Light up your fag and you take a drag
Smoke a cigarette and inhale deeply
And you sit and watch the TV.
And you silently stare at the television
Watch the sinners and the saints, and the saints who fall in sin,
Observe the wrongdoers, the virtuous, and the morally upright who transgress
For the heart that breaks and the thousand aches
For the shattered heart and numerous discomforts
There's a quart of cork dry gin.
There's a bottle of gin to ease your pain
There's a ghost beside my window, there's a ghost beside my bed
Phantoms haunt my room, and spirits haunt my bed
What I leave behind stays in my mind with the ghosts inside my head
What I abandon persists in my thoughts, along with my inner demons
I lift my load, look down the road, and ahead, behind's the same
I shoulder my burden, survey the path, and it appears the same in both directions
When I start to run I've just begun to go the way I came.
As I commence running, I effectively head back in the same direction
At half-past-four they bar the door and the pub it empties fast.
At precisely 4:30, the pub closes, and patrons quickly vacate
I'd rather stay than walk away to the shadows of the past.
I prefer to linger than depart for the memories of bygone days
I hear their song and it's loud and strong, but I know when they begin
I hear their melody, and it's vivid and resonant, but I'm aware when it starts
That their serenade will quickly fade with a quart of cork dry gin.
That their tune will soon fade away after drinking alcohol
Willy was a little wild and he shot his neighbors dead
Willy was a bit reckless and murdered his neighbors
The lad was bad, but the judge was sad and he wept as he shook his head
The boy was wicked, and the judge was sorrowful, shedding tears and shaking his head
"My boy," says he, "there's clemency for many a venial sin
The judge proclaims, "Son, forgiveness is possible for most minor offenses
But if this is true I sentence you to dine with the cherebim."
But if this crime is accurate, I sentence you to dine with angels
"Well then, alas, it comes to pass that I must take my rest
"Well then, unfortunately, it's time for me to depart
Lay me down into the ground with a bottle on me chest.
Bury me with a bottle resting on my chest
I'd like a tune sung 'neath the moon by a maiden sweet and thin
I want a melody serenaded beneath the moon by a slender, charming lady
And by my head when I am dead pour a quart of cork dry gin.
And when I'm lifeless, pour a bottle of gin next to my head
Contributed by Addison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.