Well, Jimmy played harmonica in the pub where I was born
He played it from the night time to the peaceful early morn'
He soothed the souls of psychos and the men who had the horn
And they all looked very happy in the morning

But Jimmy didn't like his place in this world of ours
Where the elephant man broke strong men's necks when he'd had too many pours
So sad to see the grieving and the people that I'm leaving
And he took the road for god knows in the morning

We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again

(Far away) I'm sad to say I must be on me way
So buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away (far away)
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally Maclennane

The years went by, the times had changed I grew to be a man
I learned to love the virtues of sweet Sally Maclennane
I took the jeers and drank the beers and crawled back home at dawn
And ended up a barman in the morning

I played the pump and took the hump and watered whiskey down
I talked of whores and horses to the men who drank the brown
I heard them say that Jimmy's making money far away
And some people left for heaven without warning

We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again

(Far away) I'm sad to say I must be on me way
So buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away (far away)
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally Maclennane

When Jimmy came back home he was surprised that they were gone
He asked me all the details of the train that they went on
Some people they are scared to croak but Jimmy drank until he choked
Took the road for heaven in the morning

We walked him to the station in the rain
And we kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again

(Far away) I'm sad to say I must be on me way
So buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away (far away)
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally Maclennane


Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Sally MacLennane Lyrics as written by Shane Patrick Lysaght Macgowan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Sally MacLennane song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    The verse by verse is really great. Sally maclennane is the name of a stout (i.e. beer like Guiness) as per wikipedia.

    The 2nd and 3rd chourus, as previously said, are largely symbolic since it's a metaphor for an irish wake. At an irish wake, people get drunk and have a big party because going to heaven is supposed to be a good thing. Hence, why they knew they'd "be seeing him again".

    It's a really song of loss and death, but captures the high-spirit of the irish/religious belief that one shouldn't be sad at departures since we all end up seeing each other again in the end.

    bigbadmanon June 25, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Errr... Sally MacLennan is the name of the pub, not a girl. It's actually a very sad song, the guy goes away, comes back to find that almost everyone he knew has died, then he drinks himself to death.

    There's no girl in the song.

    skittenon March 15, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I'll go through it verse by verse:

    [verse one and two] Jimmy is a kid (young man, whatever) in a fairly small town. He entertains in pubs and is well liked by everyone, but grows tired of small town life and the pub and decides to leave for bigger and better things.

    [first chorus] His friends go with him to the train station to see him off. They talked about old times but didn't let themselves get too down about Jimmy leaving because they feel sure they'll meet again some day.

    [verse three and four] One of Jimmy's friends, the singer, grows older and lingers at the pubs more for the drinks than for the company, though he does still make small talk with other patrons. He hears talk of Jimmy, and how he's off and doing well for himself. As the years go on, some of the old "gang" die.

    [second chorus] It's more symbolic, now. They aren't taking people to an actual station, now. It's a funeral. They talk about all the times they had with the people who have died, but aren't too sad, because they know they'll meet again some day.

    [verse five] Jimmy finally comes back home, everything has changed. Everyone he knows has died. Now depressed, he drinks himself to death.

    [third chorus] Like the second chorus, the third one is more symbolic and is about a funeral or something similar. And, once again, everyone talks about all the times they had with Jimmy, but they aren't too sad, because they know they'll meet again some day.

    It's kind of a sad song (what am I saying? It IS a sad song in subject, anyway), but it's very upbeat. It's like Jimmy's friends and the funeral goers. What's happened is sad, but they won't let it get them down, because there's always a bright side.

    crimeofpassionon July 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah, its about death, but i dont think its that sad. i mean, even when they're gone you have this feeling you're not saying goodbye forever. "And we sang him a song of times long gone Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again"

    spook!!on March 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Jimmy was a male prostitute. Also, Sally MacLennane is a beer recipe.

    mithgilon August 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I cant beleive this song/ the pogues arnt very popular this song is amazing i love it all the pogues shit is great to sing along to and get drunk 143 pogues ROLF SAUCE

    pburke012on September 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    more like a friend's death to me..just read it carefully and you'll find its meaning..

    strummervilleon October 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sally MacLennan is actually a homebrew whisky.

    veganrailpunkon January 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sally Maclennane

    everything2.com/index.pl

    sl8ron January 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    home brew stout, not whisky

    sl8ron January 25, 2007   Link

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