If I Should Fall From Grace With God

A fat lip. A throbbing head. A full heart. It is observed that the Tibetan people (whose country and culture remains illegally occupied and oppressed by communist China) are among the happiest on earth, despite their circumstances. Their recipe? A constant contemplation of the everpresent reality of death that becomes their catalyst for the enjoyment of every moment, this moment. It’s all gravy, they giggle. Understand? I’ve found the Irish possessing a similar ability to dance in spite of their shackles, but not of the same fruit of active detachment from the illusionary external world of which the eastern religious traditions bring awareness; rather, the Irish find/choose joy in the midst of their active engagement with the muddy world, as well as the spirits that abide in it: whiskey (ponder why, exactly, alcohol has been classically identified as a spirit), followed by a good dust up, and then another whiskey. At some point, a weeping, snot nosed, good cry is in order. And all accompanied with music and song, dance, and fall. Another round of whiskey! There is an intentional and unwaverable attitude of joy in the Pogues’ music and lyrics, despite the worst that life (or the devil and all his fallen angels, sometimes even God himself) can bring. The Irish don’t raise a glass to celebrate poverty and oppression. They toast the Irish spirit, the human spirit, who rages against and endures the worst that life brings. Who fight it tooth and nail. Whose dying words echo the concluding lyrics of this LP- even when the worms be crawling in and around your brain, ‘Be merry, my friends. Be merry.’ Sweet Mary, Jesus, and all the saints, can’t the Pogues wander, musically: from traditional Irish folk music amped up a might with a punk edge. Celtic sounds pared with Latin flare. When did a Turkish song of the damned ever propel a person to dance a jig to salvation? Or singing 'The Rare Old Mountain Dew' in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve ever transfigure into something as earthly-holy as the feeding trough in Bethlehem in which the baby Jesus slumbered? ‘Metropolis’ even introduced this listener, at least, into the genre of Celtic jazz! Lyrics? Where do we begin? I’ve not heard anyone, other than the Pogues, use both the words ‘fuck (ed, ing, er, etc)’ and ‘Jesus’ in the same song (‘Bottle Of Smoke’) and with reverence for the meaning and importance of both. As expected, there’s plenty of love for the immigrant experience and celebration for the promised land of opportunity in America. Irish are certainly among the most grateful immigrants of the freedom and opportunity America provides. But so are Latinos and Africans, for whom the Pogues also sing. This LP, this band, is so much more than only ‘Irish.’ And yet, nothing less, somehow, too. Hey, what do I know? I’m WUI anyway, from my home, on a snow day in Denver (2 feet and rising.) Is it happy hour, yet, across the Alantic, to the east? My great-grandfather, Papa Hall Delaney, was an Irish immigrant and worked on the western U.S. railroad, eventually settling in San Francisco before he died, forcing my great grandmother, Nanny, to move back to Pasadena, Texas, where she lived out her days in a small apartment above the garage in the backyard of my grandparent’s home. At 29, when this LP was released, I was barely even aware of my Irish roots. I was spirited enough, that’s for sure, and too familiar with spirits, but not yet spiritual, Celtic or otherwise, so I didn’t’ know shite. Over the years, I’ve become more than familiar with the best and worst Irish blood can bring: an unfortunate propensity to the overindulgence of alcohol, an exaggerated and sometimes violent reaction to fear and despair, an uneasy alliance with church and society; but, also, a love of hearth and song, a longing for reconciliation and peace with Creator and creation. Caressing the beads of a rosary in morning devotion, after fishing it out of the toilet where it accidentally fell the night before- the Word became (too?) flesh. This is Irish, for me, in a sentence. Better yet, I believe this lyric in ‘Sit Down By The Fire’ kinda says everything one needs to know about the Pogues, this terrific LP, and the Irish and/or Irish-American experience in general: ‘Remember this place. It is damp and its cold. The best place on Earth. But it’s dark and its old. So lie near the wall and cover your head. Good night and God bless. Now fuck off to bed!’ I’ll conclude with Ireland’s greatest and most loved and loathed (and so, soo Irish), writer, Oscar Wilde: ‘We are all in the gutter. Some of us are looking at the stars.’ And raise your glass (and if you don’t already have one full, we’ll wait………………………………………………………………………………………………………….) for this most famous of Irish toasts: May you be in heaven a full half hour before the the devil knows you’re dead. I love ya all- that’s Jesus and the whiskey talking (and so, me…), Mark.

diddly dee done by the diddly dee masters. 19 songs is far too much diddly dee. my tolerance to diddly dee is about 3 songs, at that point i look for a different pub.

🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧

I don't like folk music. Therefore this isn't folk music. It must be some obscure subset of punk.

This album makes me want to run downhill into battle with nothing but a sock of coins in one hand, and a hurley in another.

Fuck, thats bordering a 5 So much good energy. Fuck it, it was funny as hell

I love the Irish and sea shanty vibe, an album to put on for adventures and light-hearted pillaging :)

As a disaffected youth, I got interested in my Irish background and asked for an album of Celtic music for Xmas one year. I got a James Galway album. Now, no disrespect to Mr Galway or the person who gave me that gift, but they can póg mo thóin, especially after I realised that this album could’ve been my Xmas present that year.

I'm obligated culturally to give this at least three stars, but the extra two stars are for its incredible quality as a piece of music.

Celtic instrumentation and themes melded with punk style and enthusiasm? Yes, please!

When this music lands, it lands woth aplomb. When it misses, it's just kinda a soft flub.

Booze-soaked Irish fighting music plus one improbable Christmas smash and one God awful novelty hit.

Second album by The Pogues on the list, and I'm guessing it won't be the last. From here on out all Pogues albums will be getting a one from me. I'm not big on Irish folk music to begin with, but Shane MacGowan's drunken wailing makes it absolutely insufferable.

This was the second Pogues album I listened to after hearing about Shane Macgowan’s death just over a month ago. The first was of course Rum Sodomy & The Lash. And as such I’m incredibly pissed off at the British public for, well most things really, we are a bunch of bastards, but specifically making Last Christmas the number 1 Christmas song this year. George Michael died in 2016, 2017 would have been the year to commemorate him, but you feckless pricks streamed Ed bloody Sheeran instead. There is however something fitting about The Pogues not hitting No.1, being always No.2 (or No.6 in this case.) Last Christmas was always going to be big. It was designed to be big. Shane MacGowan helmed a crew of motley, unruly, drunken underdogs from either Eire herself or Kentish Town who interspersed tradition folk songs with drinking songs and genuinely beautiful bits of music about losers, migrants, love, revolution and everything inbetween. They were not supposed to get anywhere near the chart, let alone number 2. So it’s easy to see the success of Fairytale of New York and of the band themselves as a grassroots movement. They are the real music of the people, not of record execs and worried parents. The filth and grime and ragged nicotine stained vocals, the humanity and empathy and sheer fucking beauty of the music, who could listen to the chorus of Thousands Are Sailing and not feel moved? This is humanity in all our sweaty, dirty, intelligent, creative, and majestic brilliance

Love this album beyond words. Absolutely raucous fun, extremely tight instrumentals, perfect singing voice for the feel, a myriad of feels covered from front to back. This album feels like it was singularly made for me. Excellent, excellent, excellent. RIP Shane. Favorite tracks: Metropolis; Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races

I gave up drinking a few months ago. For the last 20 years, I’ve gone hard on the piss – I don’t have the full-time alcoholic gene, but I fall very easily into a pattern of spending all my spare time either drunk or hungover. As a result, giving up alcohol at 38 has left a vacuum in my day-to-day life where lots of things just aren’t the same anymore. If I Should Fall from Grace with God is one of those albums that’s basically perfect on every front. The songs are incredibly well written – IMO the worst song on it is the hit single – and the band manages to sound both sloppy and tight at the same time, which is a huge achievement. MacGowan’s more of a wordsmith than a lyricist. It runs the full gamut of working-class existence, from working a shitty job, to having a punt, to going on a cheap holiday… drinking yourself stupid the entire time. It somehow celebrates its own misery. I can’t explain it any better than that, but it makes Springsteen seem like a 3rd-grader by comparison. To tie these points together: my entire adult life I’ve idolised this album and Shane MacGowan. More accurately, The Pogues have been the house band to a life spent mostly sozzled. It’s one of the few times you can feel genuinely good about being a stinking-drunk piece of shit. “I’m not a wastrel! I have the soul of a poet!” and so on. I don’t have many “oh my god, I wish I could crack a beer right now” moments, but hearing this album for the first time since going clean sorta brang one on. It didn’t worry me; mostly it simply drove home just how legitimately excellent the album is. But it is also a bittersweet thought: despite what they tell you, not EVERYTHING improves when you give up drinking. 5/5.

This is just a completely classic album in every respect, with some absolutely historic songs. It's intensely replayable, and I really liked some of the deep cuts, like South Australia and Thousands are Sailing. Just completely HITS the Irish Diaspora that one. Some weird choices with the Spanish-themed tracks? But I dig it all.

I got both Pogues albums generated back-to-back on my weekend days, which I usually save for Monday listening. So it is Monday morning now, and I have listened to Irish folk-punk for 2 hours straight... it was fine but that's probably enough of that for the next 5 years

The Folk completely kills all the excitement of the Punk. Pretty boring.

always love the pogues 🤍

i will always love the pogues, especially in their earlier days. there's hardly a poet out there who measures up to shane, and i hope the music always hits me right in the heart. i still love rum, sodomy & the lash more than this one, but they're both 7-star albums in my book.

One of my all time favorite albums.

I'm not a big connoisseur of Celtic music but if I am ever in the mood for the genre, I go to the Pogues. They weave punk in with the folk and more traditional styles so well. 'Fairytale of New York' in particular is probably my favorite Christmas-themed song. In general a very fun, listenable album. Standout Tracks: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Bottle of Smoke, Fairytale of New York, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, Lullaby of London, The Broad Majestic Shannon

A poppy, accessible and musically upbeat take on traditional Irish folk. The album incorporates a lot of other styles, but all somehow within an Celtic folk rock framework, which holds it together. A couple of ubiquitous classics - Fairytail of New York and Fiesta. A fun album, but with depth. A triumph. 4.5/5

I great influential album but can't be listened to on repeat

Really fun for about 4 songs, and then it's very difficult to listen to. There's only so much Irish pub a man can take.

It takes a very specific person to enjoy almost an hour of this. I am not that person.

Listening to If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues is like being catapulted into the most riotous Irish pub you’ve never dared enter—only this time, you’re thrilled to be there. The music grabs you by the collar, shoves a whiskey in your hand, and dares you not to spill it. Every track is a perfectly chaotic blend of drunken revelry, heartfelt poetry, and the kind of energy that makes you feel like you could take on a rugby team in a bar fight and win. By the time “Fiesta” blared, I was clanging pots and pans in my kitchen like a deranged one-woman mariachi band. And don’t even get me started on “Fairytale of New York.” It’s a holiday song, but the kind of holiday where you burn the turkey, chug mulled wine, and cry over your ex before making up and singing carols together off-key. I don’t know if Shane MacGowan wants me to feel like a poetic brawler with a heart of gold, but that’s where I am. Let’s just say this album has me ready to down a Guinness, challenge a stranger to arm wrestling, and write them a heartfelt sonnet afterward. This isn’t just an album; it’s a lifestyle. So, if you’re not ready to fist-pump, dance like a lunatic, and maybe throw a chair (with love), then you’re not ready for The Pogues. But if you are—well, sláinte, my friend. This is your new anthem.

There's another version of me in the multiverse who's favorite album is this and he's probably doing better

Celtic jazz? Spanish guitar?? Christmas ballads!? All cemented together via drinking-fighting Irish belters??? "Be merry, my friends. Be merry". It's bloody hard to be anything else listening to this. Top craic

So, my only real experience with The Pogues up to this point has been Fairytale of New York, which I think is one of the greatest Christmas songs. However, seeing that on here I wasn't sure if the rest of the album would be like that too, and I could have seen myself getting a bit bored with a whole album of that sort of thing. I was pleasantly mistaken! This proved to be a wonderful Celtic punk album with plenty of that Irish folk flair but also with a bit of Turkish and Spanish influence in a few songs. It was rocky enough to keep me hooked, but that wonderful Celtic folk instrumentation paired with Shane McGowan's gruff voice makes me want to find a cozy village pub with a warm fire, have a couple of drinks and simply celebrate my place in this big scary world. This was a really pleasant album that I liked a lot more than I was initially expecting. Favourite: Bottle of Smoke

Super album…

Excellent album, so good I listened twice back-to-back.

Me encanta este estilo

After writing a novel yesterday about The Wall, I’m taking a bit of a break today, but make no mistake, this is a *fantastic* record. The Pogues’ blend of traditional Irish music and their wild punk spirit is perfect - no notes.

An odd little morsel of an album. On its surface, I don't think I should like this. But the combination of the grunty-broguey-singing, flutes, drums, and fiddles works in an unexpected way. I would have given another star if it was about 25-50% shorter.

Too jittery.

The album is what I imagine Lucky Charms would sound like if it was a band. There is a lot more accordions than I’m used to, but it makes for a fairly upbeat album on average. It would probably be great to listen to in a Boston pub, but a little too frantic for a work day listen. Overall, the album is a little too “sea shanty” for my liking, and I stopped at “Worms” as per the original album…didn’t go into the “expanded version” stuff.

Don't care much for The Pogues in general and Shane McGowan in particular. Love traditional music, but not in a punk style. I like my traditional music traditional.

Not a big fan of the British monarch but the Irish deserved the troubles for releasing this shit AND THERES TWO OF THESE FUCKING ALBUMS ON THE LIST

I went through a slight Pogues phase when I was maybe 20, and listened to their albums now and again across my 20s. Listening to this album now does not compel me to listen to them more. I found the album dull. Drunken lads doing drunken lad things, battles, male sadness. The Pogues did expose me to the first time to traditional Irish music, and I appreciate that; sometimes today I do listen to traditional Irish music. But I find the Pogues wallow in the music a bit too antic, and often tedious. Not for me.

I snuck into a club in Dallas to see this tour and never looked back. Seeing them live that night confirmed for me the brash brilliance of this band. From the title track to Turkish Song of The Damned to Fairytale of New York (which to this day remains the best Xmas song ever), this effort really sees the band at their peak firing on all cylinders. The Pogues have the amazing ability to kick you in the balls, help you back up then hand you a pint and tell you how much they love ya. Poignant lyrics. Bombastic jigs n reels. Poetic frontman. Lots of craic. Sláinte Shane! I got the next round…

A goddamn Irish fever dream.

Irish ska lol

Hurtling chaotic traditional Irish songs with gorgeous writing and ripping energy. And I love Shane's voice. This is a stone cold classic.

The best - loved the Pogues

Just awesome

Wow

Unfassbar gutes Album mit einem Mix aus Spaß, Ernst und Verstand. „Fairytale of New York“ oder „Fiesta“ werden auch noch in 100 gespielt werden. 😊

Crossing punk rock and folk/Irish music is always going to hit a sweet spot with me. And what an album! Great songs from start to finish. The greatest revelation for me was the track Metropolis. As soon as I heard what was happening, I smiled and said “this is so cool.” Crossing Irish reels with echoes of orchestral pieces like Powerhouse and similar city/industrial evocations of the big band era, with half-tone movements happening on horns. Very cool piece.

Absolute perfection! Favorite songs: The Irish Rover, If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Mountain Dew, Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/Galway Races, Bottle of Smoke, Thousands are Sailing, Fiesta, Fairytale of New York, The Broad Majestic Shannon, Sit Down by the Fire, Turkish Song of the Damned, South Australia, The Battle March Medley, Lullaby of London, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, Sketches of Spain, Shanne Bradley, Metropolis Least favorite songs: Worms 5/5

Sometimes, I get an album that earns a 5 star rating mostly because of cultural impact. A good example of that would be Blackstar or The White Album. I like both of those albums plenty, but their cultural impact is really what brings them up to a 5. This album, on the other hand, feels like it was targeted directly at me. I wouldn’t be surprised if it has a low average rating, but I’m always in the mood for Celtic fusion music, especially when it’s with a genre I typically do not like, such as punk. Favorite Track: Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races

This is one of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands, I fucking love the Pogues! It's like folk punk, Irish anger and liquor with traditional instruments and rhythms. It doesn't get much better than this!

Ye inner swashbuckler cowboy Irishman be scallywagged off a short pier

Stunning!

The title track and Fairytale of New York are iconic - I never realized these songs were from this band. This was a thoroughly enjoyable Irish album with great instrumentals. Very much like the Dubliners, and in fact one song features them.

Rip Shane!

Wait I loved this?

5+ cos I fookin’ love Irish music and Irish attitude and this album has heaps of both. Even the wtf songs like Worms have attitude. Not too bad at all.

Yes, this one gets 5 stars. Maybe it’s not a full 5 star, but it’s damn close, and I’m going to round up anyways. Sound was absolutely killer, this album will forever and always get me hyped up 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

Twenty FACKIN’ five-to-one 🇮🇪 Oh me gamblin’ days are done ❌ I bet on a horse called Bottle o Smoke 💨💨💨 And my. Horse. Won 🐎🥇

Fantastic all the way

5/5. A full collection of great songs, none overstaying their welcome and all unique in their own way. They really nailed down the energy of short and quick folk-punk tracks for the most part, sprinkling the ballads throughout here and there. Although I can barely understand any of the vocals, they are still exciting and rhythmic in their own way. The album is a treat to listen to front to back. Best Song: Fairytale of New York, Fiesta, Turkish Song Of The Damned

THE BOYS OF THE NYPD CHOIR WERE SINGING GALWAY BAY

The Irish go crazy for this stuff. So do I

Love it! Jason kelce Christmas song

finally, up until this point i think the only other 5 stars i have given were to the smiths - meat is murder unreal artistry and a classic sound. rip shane

Great love the pogues

5 Stars for best Christmas song, ever

Irish band, super fun to listen to

5 out of 5. This album is a festive good time.

What a fucking blast, I already new fairytale, but hearing it the larger context was fascinating.

Just incredible!!

RIP Shane McGowan. This is the Pogues at their best. There's not much else to say.

I'm an idiot for not listening to this sooner considering how much i like 'Rum Sodomy and the Lash' which came right before it. Songwriting is just top tier all over this. Plenty of albums on here feel like they drag on forever, this one I was shocked when it ended, felt like it only started.

Raucous, lyrically brilliant, fun and always joyous. There was just something very fun about the Pogues.

I truely believe it’s a metal masterpiece and an excellent depiction of its era. However, listening to it in 2025 I can’t help but think it’s theatre rock- it could and should be a Broadway musical. High energy and extremely animated. A good way to start the day, adds 2.5x speed to whatever you’re doing.

Yes! Lots of fun, would be even better knocking back the beers. I can skip the Christmas one right?

Great album. Multiple different styles and melodies. Very catchy and heartfelt in parts. Stand out song ,- Fairytale of New York

Loved it. Would’ve been much better with a pint of Guinness than behind a desk reviewing insurance claims, but bills need to get paid. Nobody does folk music better than the Irish. Give it a little bit of modernizing and you can’t miss. If you’re into Flogging Molly or Drop Kick Murphys than you’re gonna like this too.

Un álbum extrañísimo, muy divertido, con mucha experimentación genial y con poco más de una hora en la que no dejé de sonreír con lo absolutamente loco que se pone todo, pero sin jamás recurrir a hacer ruidos innecesarios o meter cosas que no sirven para nada. Me la pasé muy bien.

Great stuff guys.

Super fun. All those Irish punk bands are just covers of this

Surprised at how many of these I actually knew. I can get behind some Celtic music, but throw in some elements of The Clash? Now we’re talking a language I didn’t know I spoke. Fun album, if a bit disjointed at times (why is there a Christmas song on here). Makes me wanna grab the homies and some beers and run around in the street

The Pogues are so fucking cool. Irish traditional fixed with folk-punk is fucking glorious. This isn't even their best album but goddamn is it magnificent. Love the playing on here

While not their best album, if you are a fan of Celtic Punk, this album hits all the right notes. While 'Fairytale of New York' is the most standout track, there are so many great songs on this album that delivers track after track.

One of my all time favorite albums. My only complaint is that I got it on March 4 instead of the 17th.

No need explanation.

The Pogues are much more than an Irish folk band and this album proves it. Yes, we still get the traditional songs, although fewer than you might think - there were three out of fifteen that I counted on the original release plus a couple more on the expanded edition including the classic Irish Rover with the Dubliners. The musical influences are broader and more diverse here - Middle Eastern sounds and wild Spanish fiestas sit comfortably alongside punk influenced folk (or maybe folk influenced punk) with a solid backing band of talented musicians. Shane MacGowan’s lyrics and vocals are as distinctive as ever from the mawkish Christmas classic Fairytale of New York (with the unmistakable Kirsty MacColl) to ballads and shanties, and powerful political songs about miscarriages of justice and the scattered Irish diaspora. A great album that has stood the test of time.

i deny it no longer: i am a white person who gets down with some Irish folk music. am i Irish? kinda? probably? (Northern Irish Protestants count, right?) either way, i just know that the bouzouki and the tin whistle go well together instrumentally, and that Shane MacGowan goes well with that duo as well. he's got such a way of describing a scene that it feels like you're really there, going through it next to him. special commendation obviously goes to "Fairytale of New York", of course. when i'm not either of the characters in the song, i feel like i'm watching them argue and fall apart at the seams while still loving each other as much as two shipwrecks can. i want to build my dreams around another.

perfect

Great fun, no-nonsense Irish punk. Love it.

Do I like Irish music? Yes Do I like Folk music? Yes Do I like Punk music? Yes Do I like this album? No, I LOVE IT!!!

Loved it

Awesome!

If an album makes you wanna go to the nearest Irish Pub, drink a lots of Guinness dance and sing the night away with your friends…then it’s my pint of Guinness!

Day 32: If I Should Fall From Grace With God - The Pogues. Pogues album 1/2. The concept of The Pogues is really genius; they somehow managed to seamlessly combine punk rock with traditional Celtic folk music. It is a combination that feels like something that shouldn't work, but somehow does. The Pogues pulled it off very well. They released the angst in their spirits while simultaneously honouring their culture and heritage with the incorporation of traditional Celtic folk instruments. The lyrics to the songs on this album cover a variety of topics, and each of them are paired with lively instrumentation, and punk rage. It feels slightly confusing, but the music is very touching, and very fun to listen to. Despite how different and unique this album is, I'd find it hard to believe that there are people who dislike this album. I am extremely grateful that Robert Dimery decided to highlight them (not to mention that he did it TWICE; with this album, and with "Rum Sodomy & the Lash"). The Pogues are getting their dues paid. The music on this album is timeless, and generations of individuals deserve to hear the innovation that takes place in this album. Personal Enjoyment: 5/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 4/5.

Bottle of Smoke The Battle March Medley

p585. 1988. 5 stars. Absolutely brilliant - possibly the greatest live band ever and one of the great songwriters on absolutely top form. And it has the best Christmas song ever on it. God bless you, Shane and Kirsty.

RIP Shane