Boys From The County Hell by The Pogues

Album: Red Roses For Me (1984)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Written by Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, "Boys From The County Hell" is part of their first album, Red Roses For Me. Typical of their early work, it's a bawdy drinking song about a group of guys who tip a few back and set out to get revenge on their boss.
One of its more interesting lyrics in this song is:

The boys and me are drunk and lookin' for ya'
We'll eat your frickin' entrails and we won't give a damn
My father was a blueshirt my mother a madam
My brother earned his medals at My Lai in Vietnam

Some translation: The blueshirts were the Irish fascist party in the 1930s, his mother was a prostitute and his brother was involved in the My Lai massacre in Vietnam. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Dan - Roslyn, NY
The Pogues were a six-piece at the time, signed to Stiff Records, home to Elvis Costello and Madness. This song is a great example of their punk-folk sound that merged with traditional Irish music. Instrumentation includes Jem Finer on banjo, James Fearnley on accordion, and Spider Stacy on Tin Whistle. The same year the song was released (1984), the group toured with Costello, who produced their next album, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, in 1985.

Comments: 2

Jayme from Brooklyn Nope and no.
Hell's Kitchen is located in the lower part of Mid-Town NOT the Bronx and tho it was largely Irish, it was NEVER called "County Hell"
The Pogues have a song by the same name recorded in 1984 and in the song it states a father being a blueshirt which where a facist party in Ireland during the 1930s and never mentions anything American while it does mention "Pounds" and other things that are part of the Irish/ UK landscape...
Michael from White Rock, BcIreland is made up of 32 Counties. Durring the mass exodus from Erin to America many of the Irish settled in New York. More specifically in the South Bronx. A section of which came to be known as Hells Kitchen. To this day Hells Kitchen is often referred to as the 33rd County of Ireland

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Live ForeverOasis

The Oasis song "Live Forever" was written in response to "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die" by Nirvana. "Kids don't need to hear that nonsense," said Noel Gallagher.

Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae's 2006 hit "Put Your Records On" borrows the opening line ("Three little birds sat on my window") from the Bob Marley song "Three Little Birds." Both songs have the same message: Don't worry, because every little thing's going to be alright.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.

Try AgainAaliyah

Until December 5, 1998, a song had to be issued as a single to make the Hot 100. Aaliyah's "Try Again" was the first tune to top the chart based on airplay alone, without any sales figures being included.

I Remember EverythingZach Bryan

Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves had both gone through divorces when they wrote and recorded the wrenching duet "I Remember Everything." It was the first #1 Hot 100 hit for each of them.

Bad RomanceLady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a big fan of horror movies; listen for the names of these three Alfred Hitchcock films in the lyrics to "Bad Romance": Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window.