Cork singer Lyra releases rendition of Shane MacGowan's song as part of tribute project
Singer-songwriter Lyra has released a rendition of the song Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six as part of a tribute project for Shane MacGowan.
Cork singer-songwriter Lyra has released a version of singer-songwriter Shane MacGowan's as part of a wider tribute project for the lead singer of The Pogues.
Lyra has spoken about her involvement in the tribute project for MacGowan, describing the release of her rendition of the track as “a huge honour”.
The tribute project is a landmark tribute album celebrating the legacy of the lead singer of The Pogues.
Lyra is among the star-studded lineup of artists who feature on the album, including Bruce Springsteen, Hozier, U2, Tom Waits, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Damien Dempsey, Lisa O'Neill, The Murder Capital. The album is set for release on November 13.
In the hands of Lyra, who is known for her soaring vocals, bold production, and emotional delivery, the track, which was originally co-written by Shane MacGowan and Terry Woods for the 1988 album shifts from a fiery folk punk anthem into a poignant, ethereal song.
Speaking about her involvement in the project, Lyra described it as “a huge honour”, acknowledging MacGowan’s “extraordinary ability to put beauty, pain and defiance into a song”.
She said that being invited to help celebrate that as an Irish artist feels “very special”.
“What drew me to was the way it’s written. It opens with this beautiful, sorrowful lament, and then there’s a real change in energy,” she said.
“Suddenly there’s fire in it. I loved that you could go from something so vulnerable to something so powerful within one song. It’s an unusual journey, and I found that really exciting. I’ve never been very good at doing things the conventional way, so there was something about it that just felt right for me.
With my version, I wanted that power to feel like people coming together. I wanted it to become an anthem you could put your whole heart into singing, with everyone beside you doing the same. There’s pain in this song, and you have to respect that, but there’s also such strength in standing up for something you believe in.
“I wanted to capture people supporting each other, celebrating each other and saying, I’m here, I’m with you. That feeling can give you goosebumps, and that’s what I was reaching for.
“I’m in the middle of making my second album at the moment, so there’s a lot of singing, a lot of tea and a lot going on in my head. Having a number one debut was beyond anything I could have imagined, and now I’m figuring out where I want to take things next. I’m excited to let people hear what I’ve been working on.
“To have this release be part of that time in my life is very special. If you’d told the girl singing away in school plays that she’d have her name on a record alongside some of these artists, she’d never have believed you.”
is a 36-track tribute album celebrating the life and genius of MacGowan. Lyra’s single joins a collection that spans five decades of influence, showcasing MacGowan not only as a poet, but as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.
is now available to stream on all major streaming platforms. The full compilation releases worldwide on Friday, November 13.
