The Pogues

 The Pogues and Shane MacGowan ---

So, yes, an Irish band in an Americana blog.  

Former front man Shane MacGowan just died.  If you've followed him, you could be forgiven for wondering how he lasted this long.  A poster child for hard living.  But he and the Pogues have been a force in Irish music.  Sure, I like "Fairy Tale of New York" and "Dirty Old Town" (by Irish folkie Ewan MacColl --- father of the wonderful late Kirsty MacColl), and collaborations with Steve Earle.  But tributes haven't mentioned my favorite: "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" ...

   

If I should fall from grace with God
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried in the sod
But the angels won't receive me

Let me go, boys, let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry

This land was always ours
It was the proud land of our fathers
It belongs to us and them
Not to any of the others

Let them go, boys, let them go, boys
Let them go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry

Bury me at sea
Where no murdered ghost can haunt me
If I rock upon the waves
And no corpse can lie upon me

Let me go, boys, let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry

If I should fall from grace with God
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried in the sand
But the angels won't receive me

Let me go, boys, let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry

Leo Kotke

 Amazing, amazing guitarist Leo Kottke performs "Ring Ring," a song about a wedding on the beach...

John Hiatt and Joe Bonamassa

 "Down Around this Place"

Legendary Americana singer/songwriter John Hiatt joined on stage by guitar great Joe Bonamassa, This is a gritty song about a place that was once a 'paradise.'   (Includes a touch of comedic relief...)

Wailin' Jennys

 

Check out the harmonies on this tune, "Wildflowers," live, with The Wailin' Jennys.

This is their version of this Tom Petty song.

Welcome to the Bungalow Stokes blog

 My new EP, "Purer Eyes," is now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and the others.  It is an exploration of blues, rock and folk.  

This blog will put EYES ON some great Americana music, mostly live video clips.  There is great music out there!

We begin with one of the saddest songs ever, and one of the most life-affirming...

"I We Were Vampires" --- Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires

It's not the long, flowing dress that you're in
Or the light coming off of your skin
The fragile heart you protected for so long
Or the mercy in your sense of right and wrong
It's not your hands searching slow in the dark
Or your nails leaving love's watermark
It's not the way you talk me off the roof
Your questions like directions to the truth

It's knowing that this can't go on forever
Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone
Maybe we'll get forty years together
But one day I'll be gone
Or one day you'll be gone

If we were vampires and death was a joke
We'd go out on the sidewalk and smoke
And laugh at all the lovers and their plans
I wouldn't feel the need to hold your hand
Maybe time running out is a gift
I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift
And give you every second I can find
And hope it isn't me who's left behind

It's knowing that this can't go on forever
Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone
Maybe we'll get forty years together
But one day I'll be gone
Or one day you'll be gone

It's knowing that this can't go on forever
Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone
Maybe we'll get forty years together
But one day I'll be gone
One day you'll be gone