(Not Quite) Fairytale of New York

It says something (I’m not entirely sure what) about the Irish national character that the most beloved Christmas carol -- played on semi-permanent loop from early November ‘til the new year -- is a rollicking duet/rant between an alcoholic Irish immigrant locked up in a New York drunk tank and his bitter, drug-addicted spouse.  Like the Irish themselves, it’s a joyful, tragic, funny, melancholy and nostalgic piece of music, full of dark themes and black humor.  There’s nothing particularly amusing about broken dreams or heroin, yet you can’t help but sing, dance and be merry.  Call it Christmas, but with the rough edges mercifully (because honestly, who can really stand all that schmaltz?) intact.

So without further ado, I bring you The Pogues’ most excellent "Fairytale of New York."

HIM: It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

HER: They've got cars big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me

HER: You were handsome
HIM: You were pretty
Queen of New York City
TOGETHER: When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day

HER: You're a bum
You're a punk
HIM: You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
HER: You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

TOGETHER: The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day

HIM: I could have been someone
HER: Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
HIM: I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you

TOGETHER: The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day