Origins: The Old Main Drag (Pogues)

Subject: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: GUEST,Dozy Dave
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 10:21 AM

The Old Main Drag by the Pogues. What is The Old Main Drag?

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: kendall
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 01:41 PM

Here in Maine that is what we call the most frequently traveled road.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: Declan
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 01:44 PM

I think the character in Shane's song is a rent boy in London.

The Old Main Drag is the street where he plied his trade. Picadilly Circus is mentioned in the song.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 02:53 PM

So are Leicester Square and Vine Street police station...also in the West End

Subject: ADD: The Old Main Drag
From: Peace
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 06:59 PM

Pretty straight forward, IMO

THE OLD MAIN DRAG

When I first came to London I was only sixteen
With a fiver in my pocket and my ole dancing bag
I went down to the dilly to check out the scene
And I soon ended up on the old main drag

There the he-males and the she-males paraded in style
And the old man with the money would flash you a smile
In the dark of an alley you'd work for a fiver
For a swift one off the wrist down on the old main drag

In the cold winter nights the old town it was chill
But there were boys in the cafes whod give you cheap pills
If you didnt have the money youd cajole or youd beg
There was always lots of tuinol on the old main drag

One evening as I was lying down by Leicester square
I was picked up by the coppers and kicked in the balls
Between the metal doors at vine street I was beaten and mauled
And they ruined my good looks for the old main drag

In the tube station the old ones who were on the way out
Would dribble and vomit and grovel and shout
And the coppers would come along and push them about
And I wished I could escape from the old main drag

And now Im lying here Ive had too much booze
Ive been shat on and spat on and raped and abused
I know that I am dying and I wish I could beg
For some money to take me from the old main drag

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:12 PM

"dancing bag"? Explanation, anyone?

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:14 PM

I thought it was those bags people carried in the 80s, like a small duffle bag. Girls took them to aerobics/dance classes, and they often had brand names taken from dancer's clothing...

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:26 PM

Hmmm, I kinda missed the '80's ... I was too busy on Wall Street buying up & trashing small companies and doing insider trading and becoming filthy rich and selling out my friends - weren't you? weren't we all? that's what I keep hearing from the media -

Sorry. Okay, anyone else? Is that the general understanding of "dancing bag"?

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: Peace
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:27 PM

Yep.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:34 PM

I've always thought it was Shane's way of adding some artisticness/gentleness to a seedy scene. Just to ram the squalour home.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Old Main Drag
From: GUEST,SRFC
Date: 04 Dec 23 - 03:56 AM

re dancing bag. It was common for fans of northern soul (huge subculture in northern england in the 70s) to bring a bag (sportgs holdall type) to all-night dance events with their dancing shoes and a change of clothes. Bags would be adored with patches from different events/clubs. Pretty sure this is what Shane is referencing