Shane MacGowan - An Irish Airman Forsees His Death (Yeats)

[iancoheekelsey]

About a world war one pilot, yeah?

[211FairyTale]

ooh, it's only Shane can deliver it like that, hits you in the gut, that voice!!! this is profound

[ChimeraAZ]

I enjoyed listening to Shane reading this poem,honestly,and if you dont like it,well,..np.Its not up to any one of us to forgive Shane,or judge him for a life he has clearly enjoyed.He'll be one of those who skid into his grave sideways,all used up and emptied,and leave a withered,wasted corpse.But,..he'll be smiling,having lived his life the only way he knows,..his own.God bless you,Shane,and live long,for us,your fans.

[loveadelaide]

First sentence is brilliant.

[Vraadrik]

I think with Shane McGowan piloting my aircraft I'd be foreseeing my own death pretty well too.

[LadyFullMoon71]

@punkrockpatti

What ever gave you the idea I was being ugly to Shane? Re-read the post. I own every CD from the Pogues to the Popes, and love his voice. Oh, and I HAVE done much that is bold, including fighting my own addiction AND living through being a young widow. What have you done? Oh, and Patti Smith spat on me in a club back in the old days. It's not like I don't get this stuff. WTF is wrong with you?

[nemohove]

I have been looking for this recording for ages-ever since I first heard it on a giveaway cd with the Independent many years ago. THANKS!!!

[LadyFullMoon71]

Thin line between genius and insanity. Many of our greatest writers and poets were addicts, and so I forgive Shane, for his gifts to us are greater than his reputation.

[punkrockpatti]

@LadyFullMoon71

yeah

thats big of youi

WTF did you ever ever do as bold as he/

[punkrockpatti]

yeah

thats big of youi

WTF did you ever ever do as bold as he?

[punkrockpatti]

@LadyFullMoon71

ummmmmmmmmmmm

that REALLY big of you

WTF have you ever done that equalled the leasy of Shane?

[MotesTV]

Seek not abroad, turn back into thyself, for in the inner man dwells the truth - Saint Augustine

[aguerra92]

that was dumb

[jcmangan]

I have a shamefull love for the terrible beauty of this man, but i have a cheerful love for this drunken poet, Shane.

So, i like both.

No matter what for i am german and never touched those shores.

But I consider William and Shane as irish men the most.

But salami is not that bad either.

[phonemonkey3]

@jcmangan James Clarence I hardly knew ya.

[loveadelaide]

@jcmangan Brilliant!!!

[rinagcat]

Sorry, I am a big fan of Yeats, this poem and Shane MacGowan but WHAT WAS HE THINKING?!! Talk about a waste of breath ...

[SDP1677]

@rinagcat BOLLOCKS to the haters. Regardless of whether you think the poem is any good (or not), Shane's delivery is sound. He doesn't piss about trying to give some poncey 'interpretation' - he reads the poem matter-of-factly, and he preserves the metre - both of these being traits that readers of poetry almost always ignore.

[clare902]

its awful

[martcarey]

@clare902 ..if this is awful then you fail totally to understand the meaning of this beautiful poem.

[iLoveSalami]

@martcarey

So, because one doesn't like an interpretation of a poem, it follows that one doesn't get the meaning of it or doesn't appreciate it in any other form? Where did you study logic?

[martcarey]

@iLoveSalami ..my remark was to clare902 who simply dismissed this as "awful".

[iLoveSalami]

@martcarey

Then I shall to dismiss it as awful; that you may answer me directly.

"This is awful!"

[martcarey]

@iLoveSalami do you mean that the poem is "awful" or Mr MacGowan's unique interpretation of this ? Then again ...your first love is a sausage so would guess both.

[iLoveSalami]

@martcarey

I think this interpretation is awful. The poem is beautiful when read.

As for my first love being a sausage you are correct, but I am sorry to see you expressing prejudice against us salami lovers. We to have the ability to appreciate poetry.

[martcarey]

@iLoveSalami ...fair comment, I like this reading though.Am a big lover of WB and visited his grave last year and Lough Gil.Used to holiday in Mullaghmore. As for your love of Salami I express no predjudice and confess that I too have a selection of the pre sliced snack in my very own refridgerator!

[iLoveSalami]

@martcarey

All respect to you, fellow salami lover. Cool beans?

[Suppressedify]

Greeaaat!

[libertine1975]

Beautiful, a poet reading anothers work in style

[barakaldo55]

Great!!! In other words: ¡Acojonante!

[RIProrygallagher]

This is strange. To hear Shane reading the poetry of Yeats! What is this from?

[MikeMotes]

I wish he had sung it. I really like the poem.

[Figserello]

@RIProrygallagher

Its from a CD called Now and in Time to Be.

It has quite a fine collection of different mainly Irish artists doing musical versions of Yeats. Waterboys' Stolen Child and Christy Moore's Wandering Aengus are first rate (and prob on You-tube too...)

And yes, Rory left us too soon!