Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 'Dirty Old Town' (Pogues cover)
Doc Martens 50th Anniversary campaign
"Dirty Old Town" was written by folk-singer Ewan McColl (Kirsty McColl's father) and covered by The Dubliners before The Pogues covered it. Ewan wrote it about the town in which he was brought up - Salford, a suburb of Manchester, home of one Stephen Patrick Morrisey and his popular beat combo "The Smiths".
Although the track may have been originally penned by MacColl to describe a grim northern industrial town, today Dirty Old Town is universally associated with the Emerald Isle’s capital, Dublin.
Perhaps an opinion that grew out of the Dubliner’s stunning cover, but more likely through The Pogue’s unique rendition that’s seen it labelled as the definitive interpretation. Other acts to cover the song include The Clancy Brothers and U2.
