Some tributes feel obligatory. This one does not.
Bruce Springsteen is set to release a cover of A Rainy Night in Soho, the beloved song written by the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan. The track arrives on Thursday, and by all accounts it sounds less like a casual reinterpretation and more like a deeply felt salute from one songwriter to another.
The news was shared by MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, who took to Instagram to break it to fans. Her message was simple but full of excitement: "Our very good friend Bruce has recorded a beautiful version of A Rainy Night in Soho. It’s a stunning tribute to Shane’s songwriting and it’s out on Thursday!"
And it tracks. Springsteen’s admiration for MacGowan is not something he has kept quiet over the years.
Long before this studio recording, Springsteen had already shown his affection for the song on stage. In May 2024, during a performance at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, he opened his show with A Rainy Night in Soho, a choice that landed with particular emotional weight for the Irish crowd. It wasn’t just a cover for the sake of a cover; it was Springsteen tipping his hat to a songwriter he has long considered one of the greats.
Their connection also extended beyond the stage. During the Irish leg of his tour in May 2023, Springsteen visited MacGowan at his home in Dublin. Just months later, MacGowan passed away in November 2023 at the age of 65, leaving behind a body of work that has shaped generations of songwriters.
Springsteen has never hidden how highly he regards that work.
He once described MacGowan as one of his "all-time favorite writers", insisting that his songs would endure for generations. That sentiment has been a recurring theme whenever Springsteen has spoken about him publicly.
In a 2020 appearance on The Late Late Show, Springsteen called MacGowan a "master", praising the enduring power of his music.
Following MacGowan’s death, Springsteen wrote a heartfelt tribute on his official website that spoke volumes about the respect he held for him.
"Over here on E Street, we are heartbroken over the death of Shane MacGowan. Shane was one of my all-time favorite writers.
"The passion and deep intensity of his music and lyrics is unmatched by all but the very best in the rock and roll canon. I was fortunate to spend a little time with Shane and his lovely wife Victoria the last time we were in Dublin.
"He was very ill, but still beautifully present in his heart and spirit. His music is timeless and eternal. I don't know about the rest of us, but they’ll be singing Shane’s songs 100 years from now."
Springsteen’s upcoming release is only one piece of a larger celebration of MacGowan’s legacy. Victoria Mary Clarke has already revealed that a full tribute album is due later this year, featuring a range of artists from across the world.
If Springsteen’s tribute is any indication, that record may end up being something rather special.
