Bill Taylor writes: The first time I heard Shane MacGowan roaring out the words, I thought The Waxies’ Dargle was the name, or maybe nickname, of an Irish pub. Especially given The Pogues’ penchant for boozy songs, and a chorus that begins: “What’ll you have? I’ll have a pint…”
There actually was a bar in Dublin called the Waxie Dargle – singular – but that came a long time after the song, and it’s been closed for years. I don’t think the building even exists anymore.
The song is about two women – “says my aul’ wan to your aul wan” – trying to raise enough cash to go on a spree; either to Galway Races or the Waxies’ Dargle.
“Waxies” was a nickname for Dublin cobblers, who used wax to lubricate the thread for their shoemaking and repair. The Dargle, which continued into the early 20th century, was their annual outing to the suburb of Ringsend, where the River Liffey flows into the sea. It was a popular spot, with music, dancing and, of course, drinking.
“Dargle” was a cheeky reference to the city's upper crust, who would picnic rather more genteelly on the banks of the River Dargle, flowing from the Wicklow Mountains to the coastal town of Bray, south of Dublin.
The Waxies’ Dargle started out as a children’s song – though probably without the references to being “chucked out of the boozer” – using a melody best known as The Girl I Left Behind Me.
Which, in turn, was lifted from Brighton Camp, a march-tune commemorating a military defence camp set up on the English south coast during the Seven Years War of 1756-63.
If you listen carefully, it’s still recognizable in The Pogues’ wonderfully rambunctious rendition of The Waxies’ Dargle, from their 1984 debut album Red Roses For Me, and, for me, the best version of the song.
It’s the band and MacGowan at their anarchic best, no holds barred and – seemingly, at least – teetering on the brink of control.
There are some other noteworthy renditions.
Gavin Gribben, a likeable young folk and country artist from County Down, gives the song a much more restrained treatment. One advantage to that is you can understand all the words…
Similarly, the Dublin trio Sweeney’s Men dial it back, too. But, again, it’s very agreeable.
Johnny Moynihan, Andy Irvine and “Galway Joe” Dolan formed the band in 1966 and were active until 1969, though Dolan dropped out after a year – apparently to fight in the Israeli Six-Day War – and was replaced by Terry Woods.
Irvine and Moynihan have played with the likes of Paul Brady, Planxty, De Dannan; and Woods with Steeleye Span and The Pogues.
This version of The Waxies’ Dargle is from their early days:
In 2012, they did a few reunion shows, including this performance:
Two less restrained interpretations to end with, from bands that both came out of Santa Monica, California.
Gaelic Storm, founded in 1996, play traditional Irish and Scottish tunes and original music with Celtic roots. The band has released more than a dozen albums, with songs also on the Titanic movie soundtrack album. Gaelic Storm appeared in the film.
The Young Dubliners have been around since 1988. Sort of, anyway. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Keith Roberts is the only original member still with them.
Among their influences, they list the Waterboys, Thin Lizzie and the Pogues. You can certainly hear that in their playing. This is the rendition that gets closest to the Pogues. I love the wild fiddle break in the middle.
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