It is not the exchanging of gifts, the promise of an afternoon spent with family, nor even the smell of lamb or turkey roasting in the bar-b-que that signals Christmas has arrived. No, in our house, Christmas Day does not officially commence until the air is filled with the opening bars of the greatest Christmas song of all. Those familiar introductory piano chords and the hint of strings, so easily imagined as snow falling, usher in a Christmas song so different, and – on the face of it – so at odds with the traditional White Christmas / Feliz Navidad narrative. Yet, the underlying, undeniable thread which runs through Fairytale of New York is one that is eternal: it is a love story.
It is around this time of year, in the days preceding December 25th, that I regularly contemplate ‘Fairytale of New York’ and why it so enraptures and entrances me. Naturally, as a fan of The Pogues, I am aware of the mythology, both real and supposed, that has developed around the track: of how Elvis Costello challenged Shane MacGowan to pen a timeless Christmas tune; of how it was the melding of two song ideas, one of which was the tale of a seafarer longing for home; of how its gestation was elephantine, the band tinkering about with it for more than two years prior to its release; and of how producer Steve Lillywhite took the tape home for his then wife, the late Kirsty MacColl, to record a ‘guide’ vocal for the female part.
While the melody is a work of art, by the third verse morphing from a wistful piano-based ballad into a type of fairground hurdy-gurdy waltz, it is the lyrics that are true genius. The opening line is like no other – “It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank'”– immediately informing the listener that this is no Jingle Bells. MacGowan’s protagonist is behind bars, but dreaming of his love and ‘a better time’ when their dreams will come true.
Is he still dreaming when MacColl enters the picture, extolling the virtues of New York (“cars big as bars” and “rivers of gold”) and briefly painting a glorious picture of the streets and Broadway? Having once been to the Big Apple in December, I can vouch for how magical the city looks and feels in the leadup to Christmas. But the Irish references (The Rare Old Mountain Dew, Galway Bay) are reminders that the two are slightly foreign to the city.
However, the starry-eyed reminiscing shortly ends, and the true nature of the couple’s relationship is revealed in a form of call and response. The pair hurl insults at each other until MacGowan again becomes contemplative. “I could have been someone” he reflects, a line so sorrowful that my heart almost aches every time I hear it. “Well so could anyone” is MacColl’s clever and pithy response, claiming that he stole her dreams. “I kept them with me, babe” is his rejoinder. MacGowan then finishes with one of his most beautiful lines: “I’ve built my dreams around you”. Even for the listener, the anguish is almost unbearable.
‘Fairytale of New York’ is a true Christmas parable, acknowledging that this time of the year can be messy, and fraught with mixed emotions. There are many reasons why I love the song, but mainly it is because it is a tale of remorse and regret, and conversely one of longing and hope. Overwhelmingly, it is a story of love and all of its glory and beauty, its flaws and imperfections.
Last year on Christmas Day, my oldest son – the first to fly the nest some years back – was last to arrive, just as the final strains of Fairytale of New York were fading out. He was only half joking when he exclaimed “I can’t believe that you started Christmas Day without me!” I will not make that same mistake this year.
This piece was first published on https://www.stereostories.com
You can read more from Smokie HERE
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Fantastic Smokie, great song, great band, and a great time of year. The Pogues at Bluesfest Byron Bay one of my best ever musical highlights – I don’t know how Shane MacGowan made it through the show but he did in flying colours!
Beautifully done, Smokie.
It is indeed THE Christmas song at our place. I suppose you’ve seen the rendition they did at Shane’s funeral.
Brilliant, Smokie.
It came on in the car this morning as I was driving to work and I again thought of how it demands deep engagement from the listener: it’s no aural wallpaper. Every time I hear it, I hear it anew, and like so much great art, there’s a gap between the presentation (here the rousing, uplifting melody) and the message (the darker nature of the lyrics) that makes it captivating. Great piece.
Fantastic reflections Smokie, what a song, what a journey it takes us on. And the Kirsty/Shane duet, full of jaded tension and deep affection is its heart. Agree with ajc re the funeral rendition. I didn’t think I could hear it anew but we did.
Cheers
Would argue that “River” by Jonie Mitchell is the greatest Chrissie song. However when I was stuck in the shopping centre I seized my wife’s phone and put on “Fairytale of New York” to drown out some woman murdering Christmas carols Australian Idol style.
I would say that both songs should be on all our Christmas lists as an antidote to the tinsel, the fake snow and the over the topness of it all…
Parable? That’s a big word for our website Smokie. It’s rarely wheeled out of my lexicon, I doubt if many of use it.
What a wonderful tune, as it has been the 30+ years I’ve listened to its charming tones. You’d expect the cold northern hemisphere setting is the antithesis of the summers we experience down here in the great southland, yet it’s more than just that. The human interaction, the love, the arguments, the spectrum of human emotions, actions, are encapsulated in this classic tune, with its universal message.
Sadly Shane, and Kirsty, are no longer with us. Both in their own ways recorded songs that will remain with us for ever, but this duet is legendary in its impact and intent. Vale you two.
Sadly I feel the song is sanitised, as when Kirsty calls Shane a faggot, the word faggot is beeped out. A great victory for the ‘Woke’ cancel culture warriors, please tell me how it enhances the attraction of the song? I do despair at how some want to rewrite aspects of history they don’t like;it never works. Whether people like those words or not, accept they’re pivotal in the wondrous tale Shane, and Kirsty, are weaving.
Despite my Irish heritage I’ve never known how to say the right Xmas words in Gaelic, so I’ll defer to my Deutsch side on my final point. Frohe Weinachten.
Glen!
Glen!
Agree one hundred percent Smoke. Outstanding piece of work this song. I reckon it blends about 6 musical genres!!!!
Thanks for all your comments, they are greatly appreciated.
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful stuff, Smokie.
Thank God for the Irish!
Lovely Smokie. You nailed it. It’s a great love song.
We sang it a few weeks back at the Choir In A Pub event at the Celtic Club. Was very disappointed that our choir leader changed the so called offending lyrics. Can’t see why this is necessary as it’s an exchange between a couple, not any form of social commentary.
Fairytale of New York, like How To Make Gravy are a more real story than the fake tinsel and bells on offer. I’m still waiting for someone to do it on Carols By Candlelight!
Great song and fine Christmas piece, Smokie. Not sure what I’d select as the greatest Christmas song of all – there are quite a few contenders in my head. I wouldn’t know where to start, really, though one that has been going through my brain for days is ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’, as sung by a small English village choir with Noddy Holder of Slade fame – it appeared on the BBC TV show Songs of Praise in 2015, when Noddy did a short piece for the show about this famous traditional Christmas carol. (Actually, what takes place is that Noddy joins in with the choir at one point and is in very good voice – no surprise, really: he is a genuinely good singer.)
Very much enjoyed your contribution, Smokie. I think the principal characters’ arguing and bickering in the song makes it a tale of real people, as opposed to the plethora of cosy and warm Christmas songs which see almost everyone sitting by a roaring fire and opening presents.
Nicely written Smokie. It certainly ranks higher than Dylan’s ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ on the Xmas Day mix tape.
Nearly burnt the sponge for the trifle reading this piece- thanks Smokie!
I can’t, for the life of me, believe no one has mentioned the late, great SPIKE MILLIGAN’S, “I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas”. I can assure all and sundry, this is one of the very first songs I sing at this time of the year
Thank you all for reading and commenting.
Merry Christmas.