If you’ve ever sat on your sofa, surrounded by damp tissues while watching Hilary Swank sob over a letter from a dead Gerard Butler, you know the feeling. It’s that specific, hollow ache in the chest. But let’s be real: the tears aren't just coming from the acting. It’s the music from PS I Love You soundtrack that actually does the heavy lifting. Music is the invisible character in this movie. It’s the ghost of Gerry Kennedy. It’s the sound of Dublin rain and the messy, chaotic reality of a young widow trying to figure out how to buy groceries when her world has ended.
Most movie soundtracks are just background noise. You forget them the minute the credits roll. This one? It sticks. It’s a weird, eclectic mix of Irish folk, American alt-rock, and old-school standards. Honestly, it shouldn't work. You have The Pogues sitting right next to James Blunt. It’s jarring on paper, but in the context of Holly’s grief, it makes perfect sense. Life is jarring. Grief is inconsistent. One minute you’re listening to a punk-infused Irish jig, and the next, you’re drowning in a piano ballad.
People still search for these songs nearly two decades after the film’s 2007 release because the music captures something visceral. It isn't polished. It’s raw. Director Richard LaGravenese didn't want a "hits of the year" compilation; he wanted a sonic map of Holly and Gerry’s relationship.
The Irish Heartbeat: Flogging Molly and The Pogues
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the Irish influence. It’s central. The film is split between the grey, cramped apartments of New York and the lush, intimidatingly green hills of Wicklow. The music reflects that bridge. Take "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" by Flogging Molly. It’s a masterpiece of irony. Dave King’s raspy voice belts out a song about death that feels incredibly full of life. It’s the song playing when we see the "real" Gerry—the guy who was a bit of a mess but loved fiercely.
Then there’s The Pogues. "Fairytale of New York" makes a mandatory appearance because, well, it’s a movie about Irish people in New York. But the real standout is "Love You 'Till The End." Interestingly, many fans forget that this song wasn't written for the movie. It’s a Pogues track from their 1996 album Pogue Mahone. It serves as the emotional anchor for the entire film. When Gerry "sings" it (or rather, when we hear the recording as Holly remembers him), it bridges the gap between the man she lost and the letters he left behind. It’s a song about a love that is stubborn. It’s not a fairy tale. It’s a commitment to stay, even when you’re physically gone.
That Infamous Karaoke Scene: "Mustang Sally" vs. "Getting Sideways"
Everyone remembers the karaoke. It’s the moment Holly finally tries to move on, or at least tries to pretend she is. Watching Hilary Swank stumble through "Mustang Sally" is cringey in the best way possible. It feels like a real night out. It’s not "Hollywood" singing; it’s "I’ve had three shots of tequila and I’m trying to survive this" singing.
But the real MVP of the upbeat tracks is "Getting Sideways" by Atlas.
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This song is pure mid-2000s energy. It’s the sound of the girls—Holly, Sharon, and Denise—trying to find joy in a trip to Ireland that feels haunted. It represents the "chick flick" energy that balances out the crushing sadness of the letters. Without these lighter moments in the music from PS I Love You soundtrack, the movie would be borderline unwatchable. You need the air. You need the tempo to pick up so you can catch your breath before the next letter arrives.
The Surprise of "Galway Girl"
We have to clear something up. When people think of "Galway Girl," they often think of Ed Sheeran. Wrong. In the world of PS I Love You, it’s all about Steve Earle and Mundy.
The scene where Gerry (Gerard Butler) performs this in the pub is legendary, mostly because Butler actually learned to play the guitar for the role. He spent weeks practicing to make sure his fingering looked authentic. The song itself is a staple of Irish pub culture, but the movie gave it a massive global boost. It’s a story-within-a-song. It mirrors how Gerry and Holly met—a chance encounter, a beautiful girl, and a man who is immediately smitten.
- Mundy’s version is the one that really took off in Ireland after the film.
- It’s bouncy.
- It’s infectious.
- It makes you want to visit a pub in Dingle and never leave.
The Quiet Moments: Nellie McKay and Laura Izibor
While the big Irish anthems get the glory, the smaller tracks provide the texture. Nellie McKay’s "P.S. I Love You" (a cover of the 1934 classic) is essentially the movie’s mission statement. It’s whimsical. It’s a bit old-fashioned. It reminds the audience that while the setting is modern, the sentiment of the film is a throwback to old-school romances.
Then you have Laura Izibor’s "Carousel." Izibor is a powerhouse Irish soul singer, and her inclusion was a brilliant nod to the actual music scene in Dublin at the time. "Carousel" captures the feeling of being stuck. It’s about going in circles, which is exactly where Holly is for the first half of the film. She’s stuck in the loop of her grief, replaying the same memories, waiting for the next envelope.
Why the Soundtrack Works as a Narrative Tool
The music from PS I Love You soundtrack isn't just a collection of songs. It’s a timeline.
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In the beginning, the music is frantic and loud, reflecting the chaos of Holly’s initial loss. As the movie progresses and she travels to Ireland, the music becomes more acoustic and grounded. By the time we reach the end, with tracks like "Same Mistake" by James Blunt, there’s a sense of weary acceptance.
Blunt is often a polarizing figure in music, but "Same Mistake" is undeniably perfect here. It’s a song about someone who knows they are flawed and keeps making the same errors but is trying to move forward anyway. It fits Holly’s journey perfectly. She doesn't become a "new person" at the end of the movie. She just becomes a person who can live with her "same mistakes" and her memories.
The Songs You Might Have Missed
Beyond the official soundtrack release, there are several "incidental" pieces of music that define the film's atmosphere.
- "Everything We Had" by The Academy Is... – This brings that 2007 emo-pop-rock flavor that grounded the movie in its specific era. It feels very "New York City in the fall."
- "More Time" by Needtobreathe – A soaring, emotional track that often gets overshadowed by the bigger names but carries a lot of the emotional weight in the later acts.
- "The Last Train Home" by Ryan Star – This song captures the loneliness of the commute, the transition between being "Holly and Gerry" and just being "Holly."
Real-World Impact and Legacy
Did you know that the soundtrack actually peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Soundtracks chart? That’s rare for a non-musical romantic drama. It beat out some heavy hitters because people weren't just buying the music; they were buying the feeling of the movie.
Critics at the time were somewhat divided on the film itself, but the music was almost universally praised. It’s been used in countless weddings and, sadly, funerals since 2007. It tapped into a universal language of "the long goodbye."
The soundtrack also served as a massive platform for Irish artists. While The Pogues were already legends, the film introduced a new generation to the soul of Irish songwriting. It moved away from the "O'Danny Boy" stereotypes and showed a modern, vibrant, and slightly gritty side of the Irish musical identity.
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Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Playlist
If you’re looking to recreate the vibe of the music from PS I Love You soundtrack, or if you're a songwriter trying to understand why these songs resonate, keep these points in mind:
- Contrast is King: Don't be afraid to mix genres. Putting a punk-folk song next to a soul ballad creates emotional "highs and lows" that keep a listener engaged.
- Location Matters: Use music that feels like the setting. The fiddle and tin whistle in the Ireland scenes aren't just clichés; they are sensory anchors.
- Lyrics as Dialogue: The best songs in this film act as subtext. They say what the characters are too afraid or too heartbroken to say out loud.
- Avoid the "Over-Produced": Many of the tracks on this soundtrack feel slightly "unplugged." That raw quality makes the listener feel like they are in the room with the artist, which builds intimacy.
If you’re going to revisit this soundtrack, don't just put it on shuffle. Listen to it in the order of the film’s narrative. Start with the New York energy, move into the Irish hills, and end with the quiet, soulful acceptance of the final tracks. It’s a journey that still holds up, even if you’ve run out of tissues.
To dive deeper into the specific artists, check out the discographies of Flogging Molly and The Pogues. They offer a much richer look into the "Celtic Punk" genre that defines the most memorable parts of Holly and Gerry's story. If you’re more into the soulful side, Laura Izibor’s debut album Let the Truth Be Told is a must-listen for anyone who loved her contribution to the film.
Next time you’re feeling a bit "sideways," put on the soundtrack and remember that it’s okay to be a mess. Just make sure you’ve got a good song to get you through it.
Practical Next Steps:
- Create a dedicated "Dublin Soul" playlist on Spotify featuring Mundy, The Pogues, and Laura Izibor to capture that specific 2007 cinematic atmosphere.
- Watch the "Galway Girl" scene again and pay attention to Gerard Butler's guitar work—it's a masterclass in how an actor can use a musical instrument to deepen a character's backstory.
- Look up the lyrics to "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" and see how they mirror the letters Gerry wrote to Holly; the thematic overlap is intentional and brilliant.