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A Pair of Brown Eyes
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Wikipedia article
"'A Pair of Brown Eyes'" is a single by The Pogues, released on 18 March 1985. The single was their first to make the UK Top 100, peaking at Number 72.[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/pogues/ Pogues UK chart history] It featured on the band's second album, 'Rum Sodomy & the Lash', and was composed by Pogues front man Shane MacGowan. Its melody is loosely based on that of Wild Mountain Thyme" (also known as "Will Ye Go Lassie Go"), a song by Francis McPeake in a traditional Irish folk style.
The song references the Johnny Cash version of the song "A Thing Called Love": "'And on the jukebox Johnny sang / About a thing called love'". It also references Irish country music singers Ray Lynam and Philomena Begley's version of "My Elusive Dreams": "'While Ray and Philomena sang / Of my elusive dream'".
Music video
The music video for the single was directed in 1985 by Alex Cox and was set in a 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'-esque Britain with Margaret Thatcher in the place of Big Brother as a supreme, god-like authoritarian figure. The video featured roles played by band members as well as a cameo by the record's producer Elvis Costello.
Critical reception
The song was ranked number 9 among the "Tracks of the Year" for 1985 by 'NME'.
References
Category:1985 singles
Category:The Pogues songs
Category:Songs written by Shane MacGowan
Category:1985 songs
Category:Stiff Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Elvis Costello
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