LYNOTT, Phil. PHILIP (First edition)

Dublin: Pippen Publishers, 1977. Slim 4to. First paperback edition. Original black card wrappers, the upper cover lettered “PHILIP” in bright green. A fine, clean copy.

A striking and scarce collection of poems by Phil Lynott (1949–1986), the legendary frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. Published during the height of the band’s success, the volume presents Lynott not as a rock icon but as a poet and lyricist, revealing the literary side of one of Ireland’s most distinctive musical voices.

The introduction is written by the celebrated BBC radio broadcaster John Peel, who recalls his early encounters with Lynott and Thin Lizzy, noting the “indefinable Irishness” present in Lynott’s writing and performance. Peel’s introduction situates the work within the wider cultural landscape of Irish music and poetry, recognising Lynott’s lyrical talent beyond the confines of popular music.

The book is illustrated throughout with bold black-and-white graphic artwork, including striking full-page illustrations that echo the dramatic and imaginative tone of Lynott’s verse. Many of the poems draw upon themes familiar from his song-writing: Irish identity, love, mythology, urban life, and personal reflection.

Though best remembered for classic songs such as The Boys Are Back in Town and Whiskey in the Jar, Lynott regarded himself equally as a poet. This volume stands as one of the clearest expressions of that ambition, bridging the worlds of Irish literature and rock music.

Scarce in commerce and increasingly sought after by collectors of Irish music, Thin Lizzy memorabilia, and modern Irish poetry.

[WR music]