The literary inspiration for some Shriekback tunes
Barry Andrews of Shriekback talks about the influence that literature has had on a few of his songs.
1. 'At Swim Two Birds' by Flann O Brien
the source of ‘King in the Tree’ from the album 'Without Real String or Fish'
the mad king Sweeney laments in the boughs of the yew… ‘and he won’t come down’
2. 'London Fields' by Martin Amis - a semi-inspiration for the po-mo pub song/drug anthem: ‘Awake too Long’ From the album 'Haunted Box of Switches Vol.1'
(porno is a drink)
3. 'A Disused Shed in County Wexford' by Derek Mahon
a reference in ‘The Fire Has Brought Us Together’ from the album 'Some Kinds of Light'.