Dirty Dick's

[dmg]

I was always going to do this for you all, but never actually passed by this end of town.  However today I did a little detour just for you guys (and ladies).  Now some of you may recall an interview where MK said he wrote the song WII when he was going back to his hotel after a concert he did in Edinburgh in '96.  Well, in '96 he was supposed to play The Usher Hall but due to bad weather the building was damaged and there was a venue change. However, I've always suspected his hotel would have been The Roxburghe on South Charlotte Street since that is nearby for The Usher Hall:  "On Charlotte Street I took a walking stick from my hotel."

Corner of S Charlotte Street and Rose Street:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/8413053711/in/set-72157633280839909

Charlotte Square (view from Roxburghe Hotel) by architect Robert Adam:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/8665201773/in/set-72157633280839909

Still there?  Good.  Just around the corner is Rose Street where there is a pub called Dirty Dick's!  Now, do you think he maybe saw it or maybe even went in and got the inspiration from the pub name?

Dirty Dick's (was in here in the late 90s when I was at uni, pre WII):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/10856211735/in/photostream/

[sweetsurrender]

dmg, this is great ! Thanks sooo much for taking these photos and did your detour just for us.  You're soo sweet like Mark likes to say.  Did you stop to get some pints

[dmg]

dmg, this is great ! Thanks sooo much for taking these photos and did your detour just for us.  You're soo sweet like Mark likes to say.  Did you stop to get some pints

No drinks!  Just had lunch and went to walk it off before getting some shopping.  As I said, I haven't been in there for many years.

I have this wee theory in my mind about how MK put together the song and thought I'd share it.  Probably way off, but the pieces fit when you put the location and lyrics together.

[Justme]

Thank you. I really like this kind of insight into the places of his songs. Gives you an idea of how the songs were born.

[Banjo99uk]

Nice work DMG. Edinburgh is on my list of places Id like to visit before shuffling off the other end of the bench. I've only ever been to Glasgow.
Regarding WII I remember an interview where he talks about Edinburgh. He also mentions ghosts being all around us but not the ones so called physics would have you believe in, but all the architecture and history around us.

[dmg]

Nice work DMG. Edinburgh is on my list of places Id like to visit before shuffling off the other end of the bench. I've only ever been to Glasgow.
Regarding WII I remember an interview where he talks about Edinburgh. He also mentions ghosts being all around us but not the ones so called physics would have you believe in, but all the architecture and history around us.

Well, if you're ever up then let me know.  That goes for all at AMIT.

[dustyvalentino]

Good work dmg, I too had suspected the Roxburghe but I've never heard of Dirty Dick's.

[Silvertown]

Edinburgh, what a great city! I could easily live there.

[Jules]

Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities and Dmg pictures are always a remind that I should go back.

When in Glasgow, I paid a visit to the old cemetery (necropolis its the name if Im right) and I took a picture if a grave, which was the one of the writer of Wee Willy Wincky mentioned in What it is. The mention of it was in the grave (not what it is, but wee Willy wincky), if I remember I will post it.

[dmg]

Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities and Dmg pictures are always a remind that I should go back.

When in Glasgow, I paid a visit to the old cemetery (necropolis its the name if Im right) and I took a picture if a grave, which was the one of the writer of Wee Willy Wincky mentioned in What it is. The mention of it was in the grave (not what it is, but wee Willy wincky), if I remember I will post it.

It is a nursery rhyme, Wee Willy Winky!  See if I remember:

Wee Willy Winky runs through the toon
Upstairs, doonstairs in his dressin' goon
Knockin' at the window, cryin' at the lock
All the weans in their beds, it's past ten o'clock.

[superval99]

When in Glasgow, I paid a visit to the old cemetery (necropolis its the name if Im right) and I took a picture if a grave, which was the one of the writer of Wee Willy Wincky mentioned in What it is. The mention of it was in the grave (not what it is, but wee Willy wincky), if I remember I will post it.

I went there last year, it was almost dusk and it felt incredibly spooky, especially when viewed from the cathedral.   

[BrianT]

Tanks DMG for taking the time to put this together for all of us to share

Brian

[dmg]

Tanks DMG for taking the time to put this together for all of us to share

Brian

You're welcome!  It was a labour of love!

[dmg]

A photo I took in September of the building that served as the toll gate from the song:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/9686423053/in/set-72157633711237974

There is a tavern within the building too!  The Tolbooth Tavern is part of the original Canongate Tolbooth.  "But the taverns are warm in town..."

[superval99]

Many thanks dmg!      Next time I'm in Edinburgh I'll take a look at all of these places!