The Sunnyside Of The Street

Album: Hell's Ditch (1990)
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Songfacts®:

  • Written by Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan and banjo player Jem Finer, this song is about a world-traveling ne'er-do-well who is happy with his lifestyle, seeing every place he visits as the sunny side of the street.
  • The title had a very literal inspiration: Jem Finer came up with it when he was walking on the dark side of the street in New Zealand, and decided to cross into the sunny side. On returning to England, he took the idea to MacGowan, who wrote the rest of the song.
  • Joe Strummer of The Clash produced the Hell's Ditch album. He took over on lead vocals for The Pogues the following year when Shane MacGowan left.
  • Pogues fans were shocked to hear this song in a Cadillac commercial that debuted on the 2007 Oscars telecast. In the spot, an idyllic, well-bred family blissfully takes their daughter to school in a luxury SUV.

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