Quotes from Shane MacGowan

Petitions are ridiculous.

I'm not singing for the future I'm not dreaming of the past I'm not talking of the fist time I never think about the last

Cram as much pleasure as you can into life, and rail against the pain that you have to suffer as a result.

There is drinking in lots of the songs because there is drinking in life. Drinking stimulates the imagination.

I drink because I'm thirsty.

I'm not going to waste my time trying 'break' America, you know what I mean? Too many people have died trying to break America. America doesn't break unless it wants to.

My dad has no control over who works with me. Me, me and me alone has to take responsibility for anything.

People are talking about immigration, emigration and the rest of the fucking thing. It's all fucking crap. We're all human beings, we're all mammals, we're all rocks, plants, rivers. Fucking borders are just such a pain in the fucking arse.

I'm not singing for the future I'm not dreaming of the past I'm not talking of the fist time I never think about the last

Now you'll sing a song of liberty for blacks and Paks and Jocks And they'll take you from this dump you're in and stick you in a box Then they'll take you to Cloughprior and shove you in the ground But you'll stick your head back out and shout "We'll have another round!

When the cold winds come and find you Blowing down from the top of the high rise I'll come and take you back down to Soho Away from all those madmen's eyes

For its stupid to laugh and its useless to bawl About a rusty tin can and an old hurley ball

So I walked as day was dawning Where small birds sang and leaves were falling Where we once watched the row boats landing On the broad majestic Shannon

But he never threw a fight when the fight was right So they sent him to the war

This town has done us dirty This town has bled us dry We've been here for a long time And we'll be here 'til we die So we'll finish off the leavings Of blood and glue and beer And burn this bloody city down In the summer of the year

Now the song is nearly over We may never find out what it means Still there's a light I hold before me You're the measure of my dreams

I've been loving you a long time Down all the years, down all the days And I've cried for all your troubles Smiled at your funny little ways

Fuck the Yanks And drink their wives My mind is clear The sky is bright I'm happy as a horse's shite Up came the Bottle of Smoke

A hungry sound came across the breeze So I gave the walls a talking.

I sat on the floor and watched TV Thanking Christ for the BBC A stupid fucking place to be Down Rain Street

I've been spat on and shat on And raped and abused.

Fucked Up Set up Faced up Jacked up Sitting there in chokey 14 years old No lock on the door But no way out No joking No hoping No nothing Pinned Down.

Hear the rebels' voices calling 'I shall not die, though you bury me!' from 'Aisling

Thanks and praises Thanks to Jesus I bet on the Bottle of Smoke I went through hell And to the races To bet on the Bottle of Smoke The day being clear The sky being bright He came up on the left Like a streak of light Like a drunken fuck On a Saturday night Up came the Bottle of Smoke Twenty fucking five to one Me gambling days are done I bet on a horse called the Bottle of Smoke And my horse won