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 GodWhere no doctor can relieve meIf I'm buried in the sodBut the angels won't receive me
Let me go, boys, let me go, boysLet me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry
This land was always oursIt was the proud land of our fathersIt belongs to us and themNot to any of the others
Let them go, boys, let them go, boysLet them go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry
Bury me at seaWhere no murdered ghost can haunt meIf I rock upon the wavesAnd no corpse can lie upon me
Let me go, boys, let me go, boysLet me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry
If I should fall from grace with GodWhere no doctor can relieve meIf I'm buried in the sandBut the angels won't receive me
Let me go, boys, let me go, boysLet me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry