Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: punk-rock
Song Meaning of “Greenland Whale Fisheries – Live At The Olympia, Paris / 2012” by The Pogues
The Pogues’ “Greenland Whale Fisheries – Live At The Olympia, Paris 2012” is an upbeat and spirited song inspired by the Irish folksong, Greenland Whale Fisheries, and performed live at the famous venue in Paris. The song recounts a story of a sailor who decides to move away from home and take up a life in the Greenland Whale Fisheries, even though his sweetheart begs him to stay. The song is a reflection of the long-standing maritime tradition that was at once a source of excitement, adventure, and financial security, but could also bring about great loneliness and isolation.
The driving rhythms and tempo of the song evoke a sense of adventure and courage, but also hint at the somber themes that come with leaving one’s family and home behind. It encourages the sailor to be brave and stronger, while also reminding them of what they will be leaving behind. The chorus lyrics “You’ll never kiss your sweetheart like you did before, You’ll never scent the heather like you did before” evoke the feeling of nostalgia and yearning for the life left behind.
The song’s message is timeless; in any new adventure, we must remember those we leave behind. But this courageous sailor is taking a leap of faith into an uncertain future, armed with the knowledge that home is never really too far away.