This song sounds like a typical Irish emigration sing except the writer misses London, not Ireland. The writer is in exile but the song does not specify where 'hell' is in this instance: this leaves it open to interpretation and therefore gives it a more universal meaning. It could be about a hostage in a far-off country or someone 'banged up abroad', perhaps on death row. Or it could be about someone deported from the UK, back to an oppressive regime. This lack of specifics makes the song all the more haunting. This is currently my favourite Pogues song and it wasn't even written by Shane!
This song sounds like a typical Irish emigration sing except the writer misses London, not Ireland. The writer is in exile but the song does not specify where 'hell' is in this instance: this leaves it open to interpretation and therefore gives it a more universal meaning. It could be about a hostage in a far-off country or someone 'banged up abroad', perhaps on death row. Or it could be about someone deported from the UK, back to an oppressive regime. This lack of specifics makes the song all the more haunting. This is currently my favourite Pogues song and it wasn't even written by Shane!
That's right, it's one of Jem's songs.
That's right, it's one of Jem's songs.