I saw her do this live. The most moving concert I've ever been at.

I found this as a possible interpretation of that scene hope it helps : "This scene is a point of climax in the story -- it is the point where Laura can't go back to her sweet innocence, and yet she is not scarred or cynical as a result of her moments with the dead man. The narrator, in relating Laura's thoughts, uses all of the language of sleep to talk about the death. The dead man's sister says "'e looks a picture" and that is exactly what Laura sees -- but it is not a negative or morbid picture, it is a picture of sleeping. She notes that he looks fast asleep and far away from the people in this room, and this world for that matter. She imagines he is dreaming and would hate to see him awakened because he in his dream/death he is far from the frivolousness of life and the hardships of life. She says his death is a marvel -- something to be inspire wonder and awe. Her reaction is so unexpected to us as readers that we are left rethinking what think we know about death. Her inability to express a complete statement about the meaning of life when she talks to her brother in the end represents that as well. What words make logical sense to convey what she understands now?"

Unfortunately as far as I am aware (I remember researching it at the time Kirsty's compilation triple album came out and did a quick search again just now) "Jack Rooney: In Person" was never staged which is such a shame as I am sure it would have been great if this song by Philip Chevron (of The Pogues) is anything to go by.