Streams Of Whiskey Lyrics And Chords
Recorded by The Mary Wallopers for The Jools Holland New Years Show in 2023. As preformed by The Pogues [ song lyrics ],,I played guitar for Shane a few years ago,,he still owes me a drink or 2 for that night. The tin whistle riff that gets played at the start and between verses is included. Regarding songs about whiskey, this one is very popular with all Pogues fans but hardly known to the general population. The more well known of songs about whiskey is Whiskey In The Jar Song which was recorded by most ballad groups around the world . I have now included the full tin whistle sheet music in the key of D. Spider Stacey does the whistle part.
Ebook of tin whistle tabs for The Pogues
After The Pogues first gig at Pindar Of Wakefield
Shane managed to fine a bass player in the record
shop where he worked, her name was Cait O'Riordan
who was 17 years old. The gigs that followed were
in The 101 Club in Clapham and the 100 Club on Oxford
Street.Although Cait couldn't play the bass guitar
at this point, James the accordion player thought her
the notes and her first gig as a Pogue was at the
101 club.. Spider Stacey also learned his instrument
at this time, the tin whistle, so instead of wandering
around the stage aimlessly he now had a purpose.
It was Shane's idea that Spider take up the whistle.
Shane managed to fine a bass player in the record
shop where he worked, her name was Cait O'Riordan
who was 17 years old. The gigs that followed were
in The 101 Club in Clapham and the 100 Club on Oxford
Street.Although Cait couldn't play the bass guitar
at this point, James the accordion player thought her
the notes and her first gig as a Pogue was at the
101 club.. Spider Stacey also learned his instrument
at this time, the tin whistle, so instead of wandering
around the stage aimlessly he now had a purpose.
It was Shane's idea that Spider take up the whistle.
[D]Last night as I slept I[G] dreamed I met with[D] Behan
I[D] shook him by the hand and we[G] passed the time of[A] day
When[D] questioned on his views on the[G] crux of life's philoso[D]phies
He[D] had but these few clear and[G] simple words to [A]say
I am[D] going, I am going, Any which way the[G] wind may be blowing
I am[D] going, I am going, Where streams of whiskey are flowing
I have cursed, bled and sworn, Jumped bail and landed up in jail
Life has often tried to stretch me, but the rope always was slack
And now that I've a pile, I'll go down to the Chelsea
I'll walk in on my feet, but I'll leave there on my back
Oh the words that he spoke, seemed the wisest of philosophies
There's nothing ever gained by a wet thing called a tear
When the world is too dark and I need the light inside of me
I'll walk into a bar and drink fifteen pints of beer
In case the key of D doesn't suit your voice, here's the chords in the key of G.
[G]Last night as I slept I[C] dreamed I met with[G] Behan
I[G] shook him by the hand and we[C] passed the time of[D] day
When[G] questioned on his views on the[C] crux of life's philoso[G]phies
He[G] had but these few clear and[C] simple words to [D]say
I am[G] going, I am going, Any which way the[C] wind may be[D] blowing
I am[G] going, I am going, Where streams of[C] whiskey are[D] flow[G]ing
[G]Last night as I slept I[C] dreamed I met with[G] Behan
I[G] shook him by the hand and we[C] passed the time of[D] day
When[G] questioned on his views on the[C] crux of life's philoso[G]phies
He[G] had but these few clear and[C] simple words to [D]say
I am[G] going, I am going, Any which way the[C] wind may be[D] blowing
I am[G] going, I am going, Where streams of[C] whiskey are[D] flow[G]ing
Shane MacGowan song Streams Of Whiskey
TBelow is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 800 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible. Streams Of Whiskey is included.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible. Streams Of Whiskey is included.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Below is just the riff for Streams of whiskey. There's a full version in the pdf ebook.
The Danny Baker interview with Shane MacGowan
So our next guest he and his career well they've always had the comforting predictability of a skip full of wet dynamite this man is different and thus he remains one of the most thrilling performers in modern music please welcome Shane MacGowan hmm you got here late then yeah we're trying to afford a show you know some people say oh Shane probably probably show up they say you might not show up but you're a pro you you've got this reputation for being nuts but you're not nuts are you
um you're a lot nicer professional nut cases yeah a professional I mean you write some of the best songs about right and yet everyone likes to think there's just one side of your character which is the you know hard living or wild living whatever but first and foremost that you are a great songwriter would you agree with that more than all this other nonsense that's always written about you yeah mean I don't like the both yeah I
think yes I think you're writing a lot of good songs yeah are you booze are you drunk now am i drunk oh yeah i mean no no no I'm not drunk no no it's just for people that myself even now he's gone but uh that always gets written about you and i said you know they said can we get shame again I'm rightly or wrongly people say oh he he's uncontrollable do you believe that of yourself no because i i don't drink to get drunk yeah i mean I'll drink I'll drink to relax you know and also and also it breaks down people's inhibitions like um
and you enjoy it and makes them more imaginative and stuff does it help your writing then how do you write under the influence yeah yeah yeah is it better have you tried the experiment so I'm going to write sober and then I'm going to write booze and is it usually the booze comes out better no never tried it like that because what i do all the time right i mean right now Danny yeah you know what i mean you had a couple like like right now I'm sort of like getting ideas you know what
well you know i mean like we'll see how it goes you know you know yeah because i mean what i mean you know i mean i'm still thinking about is it a curse i mean i have a way of it is that would you have been better if you'd have not been born and i don't you know me i i ain't sucking up here what is that it's over here there's another show going on over there would it be better i'm glad i was born I'm
yeah but that's the other thing about your show people people always say oh Shane MacGowan's got about two weeks you must be aware when people say that they don't i mean you knew me in 1976 1977. yeah yeah but even so people regularly were saying that dan why are you like that then Shane why I mean because you are and I you're brilliant i mean in the literal sense of it when you write stuff it takes your breath away right and yet you have this other which people like to say self-destructive side but it's not you say it's a creative side would you be better if you're born a big dumb
bloke and you'd have enjoyed that more would you don't know what i mean like your point of view no you're not you're not you know thing is i mean like i mean I'll think of any sort of like like uh songwriter novelist power painter um creative art is the very musician of any description like you know who hasn't who hasn't had a funniest for for a drink or something so are you proud of your uh i mean like
I'm not just talking about Charlie Parker or Brendan Behan or or uh Keith Richard or Brian Johnson bless him or Phil in it or these are all Jimmy Hendrix i'm talking about turner you know turner and you know don't worry most of the people you mentioned turner was constantly drunk and stunned and loaded you know yeah but so are a load of vlogs sleeping in the gutters you know uh it does do make a creative person more creative and a lot of people
you mentioned are dead does that bother you at all it's true in it does that bother you at all seriously well i mean a lot of people are nations are a lot young older than i am well well I suppose so but you know certainly died 200 years ago he'd be the first to know all right oh those people no I mean it's sad it's do you enjoy what you do do you enjoy uh either the fame or the idea that you are part of the rock and roll pop world do you like that
um i enjoyed in performing i enjoy in front of audiencesI enjoy playing music with other people you know what i mean what i don't get obviously I'd like to make a you know a lot of money out of what i like doing so that i can do exactly what i want and pretty much what you want didn't you i mean um you know you do do pretty much what you want if nothing else you are as i said in the intro something of a lone wolf and of a literally maybe a dying breed of rock
singers who don't caught the easy rule i mean it's like they said about Neil Young you can go to the middle of road or you can go to ditch you very much live in the ditch yeah whiskey in the ditch yeah yeah I'm sure no seriously I think so i think oh it sound bloke playing a control rocker they may be thinking that now but in fact some of the poetry you've written and the lyrics you write are way beyond like the charts or whatever how can you do it when you appear to be on the edge of falling over
all the time how can you do that how is it done where did I'm sitting down at the moment thank god for but it do you do it you sit indoors and think right does it come to you out of nowhere is it a gift or do you have to work real hard or be sober for 10 minutes or what oh it's well um it's definitely on me I definitely got got a talent for him you know i mean yeah right but i know there's a lot of people who've got a talent for it who've never
you've never never developed it you know I mean part of what you're right is isn't it the poetry is we're going to get in our generation I think right it isn't it well it's lyrics you know I know you're very I think it's poetry sometimes you write their stuff I mean you said fairy tale of New York it's a wonderful thing and yet the two things don't weigh up I mean people look at you and they say how does he do it this fella it's like uh in rain man Dustin Hoffman there's this fellow who seems to be out of control who can come
up with this wonderful stuff no no the guy in rain man is a or he appears to be immoral i mean he isn't really sometimes he's got a system you know but sometimes you do people think oh he's just this guy who don't care he just boozes and he's not got a great respect for it that's what I'm saying how much respect do you have for what you've got no well i just don't take myself that seriously are you easy to deal with would you say because there's the famous you had the running with your own band and they said they got fed up and I
know it's all over in that now but generally from ripple company ends of it and meeting deadlines are you easy to deal with would you say yeah we're easy really easy person to deal with yeah yeah i know you're actually in relationships and stuff but today when we said he was on the show and this week when we knew he was coming on the show and it wasn't just me other people noticed this a lot of women went wow Shane's on now traditionally you're not a good looking fellow but you're something of a babe magnet a lot of women are you aware of that a
lot of women find you irresistible for whatever reasons are you aware of that I've noticed yes Shane MacGowan same thing I don't know who was more shocked than me or Shane during that but there it is uh and if you really don't take me seriously the fact that the guy is brilliant I urge you to check him out and then you'll say that fella brilliant
So our next guest he and his career well they've always had the comforting predictability of a skip full of wet dynamite this man is different and thus he remains one of the most thrilling performers in modern music please welcome Shane MacGowan hmm you got here late then yeah we're trying to afford a show you know some people say oh Shane probably probably show up they say you might not show up but you're a pro you you've got this reputation for being nuts but you're not nuts are you
um you're a lot nicer professional nut cases yeah a professional I mean you write some of the best songs about right and yet everyone likes to think there's just one side of your character which is the you know hard living or wild living whatever but first and foremost that you are a great songwriter would you agree with that more than all this other nonsense that's always written about you yeah mean I don't like the both yeah I
think yes I think you're writing a lot of good songs yeah are you booze are you drunk now am i drunk oh yeah i mean no no no I'm not drunk no no it's just for people that myself even now he's gone but uh that always gets written about you and i said you know they said can we get shame again I'm rightly or wrongly people say oh he he's uncontrollable do you believe that of yourself no because i i don't drink to get drunk yeah i mean I'll drink I'll drink to relax you know and also and also it breaks down people's inhibitions like um
and you enjoy it and makes them more imaginative and stuff does it help your writing then how do you write under the influence yeah yeah yeah is it better have you tried the experiment so I'm going to write sober and then I'm going to write booze and is it usually the booze comes out better no never tried it like that because what i do all the time right i mean right now Danny yeah you know what i mean you had a couple like like right now I'm sort of like getting ideas you know what
well you know i mean like we'll see how it goes you know you know yeah because i mean what i mean you know i mean i'm still thinking about is it a curse i mean i have a way of it is that would you have been better if you'd have not been born and i don't you know me i i ain't sucking up here what is that it's over here there's another show going on over there would it be better i'm glad i was born I'm
yeah but that's the other thing about your show people people always say oh Shane MacGowan's got about two weeks you must be aware when people say that they don't i mean you knew me in 1976 1977. yeah yeah but even so people regularly were saying that dan why are you like that then Shane why I mean because you are and I you're brilliant i mean in the literal sense of it when you write stuff it takes your breath away right and yet you have this other which people like to say self-destructive side but it's not you say it's a creative side would you be better if you're born a big dumb
bloke and you'd have enjoyed that more would you don't know what i mean like your point of view no you're not you're not you know thing is i mean like i mean I'll think of any sort of like like uh songwriter novelist power painter um creative art is the very musician of any description like you know who hasn't who hasn't had a funniest for for a drink or something so are you proud of your uh i mean like
I'm not just talking about Charlie Parker or Brendan Behan or or uh Keith Richard or Brian Johnson bless him or Phil in it or these are all Jimmy Hendrix i'm talking about turner you know turner and you know don't worry most of the people you mentioned turner was constantly drunk and stunned and loaded you know yeah but so are a load of vlogs sleeping in the gutters you know uh it does do make a creative person more creative and a lot of people
you mentioned are dead does that bother you at all it's true in it does that bother you at all seriously well i mean a lot of people are nations are a lot young older than i am well well I suppose so but you know certainly died 200 years ago he'd be the first to know all right oh those people no I mean it's sad it's do you enjoy what you do do you enjoy uh either the fame or the idea that you are part of the rock and roll pop world do you like that
um i enjoyed in performing i enjoy in front of audiencesI enjoy playing music with other people you know what i mean what i don't get obviously I'd like to make a you know a lot of money out of what i like doing so that i can do exactly what i want and pretty much what you want didn't you i mean um you know you do do pretty much what you want if nothing else you are as i said in the intro something of a lone wolf and of a literally maybe a dying breed of rock
singers who don't caught the easy rule i mean it's like they said about Neil Young you can go to the middle of road or you can go to ditch you very much live in the ditch yeah whiskey in the ditch yeah yeah I'm sure no seriously I think so i think oh it sound bloke playing a control rocker they may be thinking that now but in fact some of the poetry you've written and the lyrics you write are way beyond like the charts or whatever how can you do it when you appear to be on the edge of falling over
all the time how can you do that how is it done where did I'm sitting down at the moment thank god for but it do you do it you sit indoors and think right does it come to you out of nowhere is it a gift or do you have to work real hard or be sober for 10 minutes or what oh it's well um it's definitely on me I definitely got got a talent for him you know i mean yeah right but i know there's a lot of people who've got a talent for it who've never
you've never never developed it you know I mean part of what you're right is isn't it the poetry is we're going to get in our generation I think right it isn't it well it's lyrics you know I know you're very I think it's poetry sometimes you write their stuff I mean you said fairy tale of New York it's a wonderful thing and yet the two things don't weigh up I mean people look at you and they say how does he do it this fella it's like uh in rain man Dustin Hoffman there's this fellow who seems to be out of control who can come
up with this wonderful stuff no no the guy in rain man is a or he appears to be immoral i mean he isn't really sometimes he's got a system you know but sometimes you do people think oh he's just this guy who don't care he just boozes and he's not got a great respect for it that's what I'm saying how much respect do you have for what you've got no well i just don't take myself that seriously are you easy to deal with would you say because there's the famous you had the running with your own band and they said they got fed up and I
know it's all over in that now but generally from ripple company ends of it and meeting deadlines are you easy to deal with would you say yeah we're easy really easy person to deal with yeah yeah i know you're actually in relationships and stuff but today when we said he was on the show and this week when we knew he was coming on the show and it wasn't just me other people noticed this a lot of women went wow Shane's on now traditionally you're not a good looking fellow but you're something of a babe magnet a lot of women are you aware of that a
lot of women find you irresistible for whatever reasons are you aware of that I've noticed yes Shane MacGowan same thing I don't know who was more shocked than me or Shane during that but there it is uh and if you really don't take me seriously the fact that the guy is brilliant I urge you to check him out and then you'll say that fella brilliant
Introduction
The Pogues, one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of Irish music, rose to fame in the mid-1980s with their unique blend of traditional Irish folk music and punk rock. Their signature sound, characterized by the raw and raspy vocals of lead singer Shane MacGowan and the use of traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, accordion, and fiddle, captured the hearts and minds of fans around the world. Among their vast repertoire of songs, one track stands out as a fan favorite and has become an anthem for Irish music lovers – 'Streams of Whiskey.'
Origin and Meaning of 'Streams of Whiskey'
'Streams of Whiskey' was written by Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, and was released on their second album 'Rum, Sodomy & the Lash' in 1985. The song has a traditional Irish folk melody, but with a punk rock twist, making it a perfect representation of The Pogues' unique sound. The lyrics of the song tell a story of a man who is drowning his sorrows in a pub, drinking 'streams of whiskey' to forget his troubles. However, the song also has a deeper meaning, exploring themes of love, loss, and the struggles of working-class life in Ireland.
Musical Style and Influences
The Pogues' music has been described as a fusion of Irish traditional music and punk rock, creating a genre often referred to as 'Celtic punk.' Their unique sound was influenced by various musical styles, including traditional Irish music, punk, folk, and even country. The use of traditional Irish instruments alongside electric guitars and drums gave their music a distinct and energetic sound. The band was also heavily influenced by Irish rebel songs and traditional Irish folk songs, which are evident in their lyrics and melodies.
Critical Reception and Legacy
'Streams of Whiskey' was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 27 on the UK singles chart and becoming one of The Pogues' most well-known and beloved songs. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Dropkick Murphys, and Flogging Molly, further cementing its place in Irish music history. The Pogues' influence on the music scene is undeniable, with their unique blend of traditional Irish music and punk rock paving the way for other bands in the genre. Their impact on popular culture is also evident, with 'Streams of Whiskey' being featured in films, TV shows, and even video games.
Impact on Irish Identity and Cultural Revival
'Streams of Whiskey' is not just a catchy song, but it also holds significant cultural and historical importance, especially in Ireland. The song reflects the struggles and hardships of the Irish working class, who often turned to alcohol as a means of escape. It also celebrates the traditional Irish pub culture, which has been an integral part of Irish society for centuries. The Pogues' music, including 'Streams of Whiskey,' has played a vital role in the Irish cultural revival of the 1980s and 1990s, bringing traditional Irish music and culture to a wider audience and sparking a renewed interest in Irish identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 'Streams of Whiskey' by The Pogues is not just a song, but a cultural phenomenon that has had a lasting impact on the music scene and Irish identity. Its unique blend of traditional Irish music and punk rock, combined with its powerful lyrics, has solidified its place as one of the most iconic and beloved songs in Irish music history. Through their music, The Pogues have not only entertained millions of fans but also preserved and celebrated Irish culture and heritage. 'Streams of Whiskey' will continue to be a timeless and cherished piece of Irish music, reminding us of the power of music to connect people and preserve cultural traditions.
The Pogues, one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of Irish music, rose to fame in the mid-1980s with their unique blend of traditional Irish folk music and punk rock. Their signature sound, characterized by the raw and raspy vocals of lead singer Shane MacGowan and the use of traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, accordion, and fiddle, captured the hearts and minds of fans around the world. Among their vast repertoire of songs, one track stands out as a fan favorite and has become an anthem for Irish music lovers – 'Streams of Whiskey.'
Origin and Meaning of 'Streams of Whiskey'
'Streams of Whiskey' was written by Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, and was released on their second album 'Rum, Sodomy & the Lash' in 1985. The song has a traditional Irish folk melody, but with a punk rock twist, making it a perfect representation of The Pogues' unique sound. The lyrics of the song tell a story of a man who is drowning his sorrows in a pub, drinking 'streams of whiskey' to forget his troubles. However, the song also has a deeper meaning, exploring themes of love, loss, and the struggles of working-class life in Ireland.
Musical Style and Influences
The Pogues' music has been described as a fusion of Irish traditional music and punk rock, creating a genre often referred to as 'Celtic punk.' Their unique sound was influenced by various musical styles, including traditional Irish music, punk, folk, and even country. The use of traditional Irish instruments alongside electric guitars and drums gave their music a distinct and energetic sound. The band was also heavily influenced by Irish rebel songs and traditional Irish folk songs, which are evident in their lyrics and melodies.
Critical Reception and Legacy
'Streams of Whiskey' was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 27 on the UK singles chart and becoming one of The Pogues' most well-known and beloved songs. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Dropkick Murphys, and Flogging Molly, further cementing its place in Irish music history. The Pogues' influence on the music scene is undeniable, with their unique blend of traditional Irish music and punk rock paving the way for other bands in the genre. Their impact on popular culture is also evident, with 'Streams of Whiskey' being featured in films, TV shows, and even video games.
Impact on Irish Identity and Cultural Revival
'Streams of Whiskey' is not just a catchy song, but it also holds significant cultural and historical importance, especially in Ireland. The song reflects the struggles and hardships of the Irish working class, who often turned to alcohol as a means of escape. It also celebrates the traditional Irish pub culture, which has been an integral part of Irish society for centuries. The Pogues' music, including 'Streams of Whiskey,' has played a vital role in the Irish cultural revival of the 1980s and 1990s, bringing traditional Irish music and culture to a wider audience and sparking a renewed interest in Irish identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 'Streams of Whiskey' by The Pogues is not just a song, but a cultural phenomenon that has had a lasting impact on the music scene and Irish identity. Its unique blend of traditional Irish music and punk rock, combined with its powerful lyrics, has solidified its place as one of the most iconic and beloved songs in Irish music history. Through their music, The Pogues have not only entertained millions of fans but also preserved and celebrated Irish culture and heritage. 'Streams of Whiskey' will continue to be a timeless and cherished piece of Irish music, reminding us of the power of music to connect people and preserve cultural traditions.
