1995
Dirty Rotten Shame


What happened when Shane MacGowan met Ronnie Drew back in the ’90s? Well, a few things happened, but here’s one thing ye might not know about. Let’s take a trip back through time, but not one that will bore you.

Back in the day, Ronnie Drew was makin’ a solo record called Dirty Rotten Shame. He was short of a few songs, so he contacted the ol’ legend himself, Shane MacGowan. Shane sent him a song he’d written, called The Dunes.

Like most of MacGowan’s work, it’s a beautiful piece of music, and it shines a light on the ugly side of life. On one of Ireland’s toughest times. The Famine of 1845-52.

The Great Hunger
I walked today on the cold grey shore
Where I watched when I was much younger
Where they built the dunes upon the sand
For the dead from The Great Hunger.

Those are the first lines Ronnie sings in the song. It sets the scene of the terrible famine... (Continues)

1997 - The Crock of Gold

Borrows the melody from Pat From Mullingar (Man From Mullingar), an Irish folk song about a heroic Irish rebel. As Shane’s lyrics tell a story of a much more unfortunate Irish Republican, they can be perceived as a bitter counterpart to the original song. The instrumental sections of Paddy Public Enemy No. 1 are taken from Kesh Jig (see Sea Shanty).