Rainy Night in Soho

The Pogues

About Rainy Night in Soho

"A Rainy Night in Soho" is a song by The Pogues released in 1986, originally included on their Poguetry in Motion EP. Two recordings and various mixes of the song were made in the studio. Songwriter Shane MacGowan and producer Elvis Costello clashed over the final mix of the song, with MacGowan preferring a mix featuring a cornet, and Costello preferring a version with oboe. The cornet version was used, except for Canadian editions of the EP, which used the oboe version. A third version combining elements of both mixes was issued on the 1991 Poguetry In Motion re-issue, and is also available on the remastered and expanded Hell's Ditch CD. Other mixes have surfaced on various compilations and bootlegs, and according to guitarist Philip Chevron there are "something like 13 versions... with different edits of the two recordings". A video was filmed for the song. It shows Shane MacGowan with short beard, cool shades and leather jacket singing into a 1950s styled mic; the black-and-white footage is mixed with flicks from the protagonist's childhood and frames from nighttime London. Finally Shane dances the waltz with his girlfriend before a burning fire. 


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I've been loving you a long time
Down all the years, down all the days
And I've cried for all your troubles
Smiled at your funny little ways

We watched our friends grow up together
And we saw them as they fell
Some of them fell into Heaven
Some of them fell into Hell

I took shelter from a shower
And I stepped into your arms
On a rainy night in Soho
The wind was whistling all its charms

I sang you all my sorrows
You told me all your joys
Whatever happened to that old song
To all those little girls and boys?

Now, the song is nearly over
We may never find out what it means
But there's a light I hold before me
And you're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams

Sometimes I'd wake up in the morning
The ginger lady by my bed
Covered in a cloak of silence
I'd hear you talking in my head

I'm not singing for the future
I'm not dreaming of the past
I'm not talking of the first times
I never think about the last

Now, the song is nearly over
We may never find out what it means
Still, there's a light I hold before me
You're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams

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The Pogues

The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every December. The group has yet to record any new music and, according to Spider Stacy on Pogues.com, has no inclination to do so. more »

2 fans

Written by: Shane Patrick Lysaght Macgowan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Origin
"Rainy Night in Soho" is a song by The Pogues, a band originally from London, England. They are known for their unique mix of traditional Irish music with punk rock, a genre sometimes referred to as "Celtic punk."
Song Release
The song "Rainy Night in Soho" was first released in 1985 as part of the album "Poguetry in Motion."
Songwriter
"Rainy Night in Soho" was actually written by Shane MacGowan, the lead vocalist of The Pogues. Despite his problems with alcohol, MacGowan has often been praised for his songwriting skills.
Reissue
Due to its popularity, "Rainy Night in Soho" has been reissued several times. One stand-out release was in 1991 on the compilation album "The Best of The Pogues."
Cover Versions
The song has impressive popularity and has been covered by a number of other artists, including Damien Dempsey and Nick Cave.
Lyrics Interpretation
Many fans of "Rainy Night in Soho" believe that the lyrics reflect a sense of nostalgia and lost love, but the song’s meaning has been kept quite enigmatic by its writer, Shane MacGowan.
Music Setting
The song setting is away from the usual raucous punk energy The Pogues are known for. "Rainy Night in Soho" is a dreamy ballad featuring a haunting trumpet solo, making it one of the band's more mellow and romantic tracks.
Song Appreciation
Despite never charting, "Rainy Night in Soho" has become one of The Pogues' most beloved tunes.
Musical Contributions
The musicianship on "Rainy Night in Soho" is notable. Along with Shane MacGowan's vocal and James Fearnley's accordion, the song features a distinctive trumpet part played by Eli Thompson.
Song Influence
"Rainy Night in Soho" is a song that has had a significant influence on the popular perception of The Pogues, shifting them from a raucous, punk-inspired band to a group also capable of producing touching, emotionally charged ballads.

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