Song of the week - The Pogues - Thousands are Sailing

This wonderful song about Irish immigration is accompanied by an informative video about the tragic Irish Famine.


The island it is silent now,
But the ghosts still haunt the waves,
And the torch lights up a famished man
Who fortune could not save.

Did you work upon the railroad?
Did you rid the streets of crime?
Were your dollars from the White House?
Were they from the five and dime?

Did the old songs taunt or cheer you?
And did they still make you cry?
Did you count the months and years?
Or did your teardrops quickly dry?

Ah, no, says he, 'twas not to be
On a coffin ship I came here
And I never even got so far
That they could change my name

Thousands are sailing
Across the western ocean
To a land of opportunity
That some of them will never see.
Fortune prevailing
Across the western ocean,
Their bellies full,
Their spirits free,
They'll break the chains of poverty
And they'll dance

In Manhattan's desert twilight
In the death of afternoon,
We stepped hand in hand on broadway
Like the first man on the moon.

And the blackbird broke the silence
As you whistled it so sweet,
And in Brendan Behans footsteps
I danced up and down the street.

Then we said goodnight to Broadway,
Giving it our best regards,
Tipped our hats to Mister Cohen,
Dear old Times Square's favorite bard.

Then we raised a glass to JFK
And a dozen more besides.
When I got back to my empty room,
I suppose I must have cried

Thousands are sailing
Again across the ocean
Where the hand of opportunity
Draws tickets in a lottery.
Postcards were mailing
Of sky-blue skies and oceans
From rooms the daylight never sees
Where lights dont glow on christmas trees,
But we dance to the music,
And we dance

Thousands are sailing
Across the western ocean
Where the hand of opportunity
Draws tickets in a lottery.
Where eer we go, we celebrate
The land that makes us refugees
From fear of priests with empty plates
From guilt and weeping effigies,
And we dance.