This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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
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
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
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.
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.
@skitten <br /> <br /> Not so sure since he says "To the greatest little boozer AND to Sally Maclennane." <br /> <br /> It sounds like Sally was Jimmy's girl before he left, and then later the narrator takes up with her in Jimmy's absence. But it is possible that Sally is some sort of drink they both had a weakness for?<br /> <br /> I also don't think it's a sad song, not only because of its upbeat nature, but because I take the "Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again" to mean they'd all be reunited in heaven or the afterlife or some such as I've heard is the Irish belief.
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.
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"
Jimmy was a male prostitute. Also, Sally MacLennane is a beer recipe.
@mithgil at first your comment seems highly disrespectful, but then it all makes perfect sense. <br /> <br /> Although, I still can't wait figure out the lyric about the elephant man breaking strong men's necks?
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
more like a friend's death to me..just read it carefully and you'll find its meaning..
Sally MacLennan is actually a homebrew whisky.
Sally Maclennane
everything2.com/index.pl
home brew stout, not whisky