Merry Christmas

First and foremost - a very merry Christmas and happy holidays to the six or so of you that read this thing on a regular basis. May the road rise to meet you all.

Secondly - the matter of Christmas songs. Again they say?! Won't he just shut it about the damn Christmas songs? This is the last time, I promise. While I've ranted about evil Christmas tunes, and raved about the good ones, I've yet to mention my all-time favorite Christmas song. But since it's Christmas Eve, I figure it's about time.

Ladies and gentleman, I give you a Fairy Tale of New York - the best Christmas song ever. The song is a duet, between Shane MacGowan, formerly of the Pogues, and the late great Kirsty MacColl. You probably haven't heard it on the radio - I've only caught it once this season - so if you don't a copy already turn off Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree and go out and buy one. Now.


Shane
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.

Kirsty
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.

Kirsty
You were handsome,
Shane
You were pretty,
Queen Of New York City.
Both
When the band finished playing,
they howled out for more.

Sinatra was swinging,
all the drunks they were singing,
we kissed on the 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.

Kirsty
You're a bum, you're a punk.
Shane
You're an old slut on junk,
lying there almost dead,
on a drip in that bed.

Kirsty
You scum bag, you maggot,
You cheap lousy faggot,
Happy Christmas your arse,
I pray God it's our last.

Shane
I could have been someone.
Kirsty
So could anyone.
You took my dreams from me,
when I first found you.

Shane
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.