The best "bad" Christmas song - Fairytale of New York First Time Reaction

I don't understand. His voice sucks. But it's perfect for the song? And it made me feel things. So because of that... it's sort of great. Thank you for hanging out with me for my first time listening and reacting to The Pogues classic song Fairytale of New York.
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[@Scary__fun]

It's basically about a couple who drink/do drugs and fight/argue with each other but there's still love there and at Christmas the hope that things will get better. It's the opposite of a generic Christmas song where everything is peace and love. This song reflects the reality of some common people who have struggles through life.

[@sarahealey1780]

In the UK, we love realness, not airbrushed hope and positivity. Finding the beauty in tragedy and hardship is what makes us tick

[@dmac8949]

As well as in any artist. I believe they call that honesty.

[@easylabeler]

Irish. Shane MacGowan was Irish to his marrow.

[@spruce381]

@@easylabelerIrish, but greatly shaped by London - and the band are half London / and I say that as an Irishman.

[@RoyKoopaling]

@@spruce381We’re brothers

[@JimmyBrock]

American. Love bands like the Pouges for their honesty and realness

[@rosmeeker1964]

Shane's voice wasn't terrible. His singing might be all over the place but he is pitching the melody bang on.

[@LynneConnolly]

Shane was a poet. There are few like him, and there won't be many more.

[@shamnet]

​@@paultaylor9498 How can you tell that her was a terrible man? Did you know him? He's had issues with alcohol and other substances but awful? He was a poet. Maybe filled should learn more about him. Rather than hammering the dead. But just a point of mine. Much of that song many did not understand.( A). Correct me if wrong NYPD never had a choir . Also Galway bay is a song many Irish immigrants sung.. . Also in video it showed Shane McGowan playing piano. But at that point he never played and did not know how to. The hands seen were bands piano player. All who knew the man's say he was a poet. The lyrics in his settings show that much. I say that as a poet. Not the best poet but still one. I have issues with folks who label him like that and not know him.

[@davidlinehat4657]

@@paultaylor9498How? He was a passionate, intelligent and religious man who gave away much of what he earned to the poor. By my reckoning, that makes him better than some random person judging him on youtube.

[@Ophelia771]

@@paultaylor9498 he had is demons like many but it was a very generous man. Many recount how he carried cash all the time and gave it to homeless people.

[@LynneConnolly]

@@paultaylor9498 Not according to everybody who knew him. Not sure where you get that from.

[@johnkinsella4802]

​@paultaylor9498 well it's pretty fuckin simple..... read/listen to his lyrics, not just fairy tale of new york but pair of brown eyes, haunted, aisling to name a few..... the same way you would listen to Jimmy hendrix play guitar to determine that he is in fact a brilliant musician......

[@norsechick]

Shane's voice wasn't good, it was brilliant. He sang raw and it touched your heart. His songwriting complemented his singing style perfectly. Check out The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

[@b-six-twelve]

Kind of reminds me of Leonard Cohen, one of my faves. Not the voice you'd expect, but works for the songs he writes.

[@columlennon]

Also check out "the Irish rover"

[@c.a.norwood34]

The Pogues are amazing, and Kirsty McColl adds exactly the right touch to this. A perennial favorite. ❤️ God rest both Kirsty and Shane. 💙

[@simonatkinson1107]

Sadly we lost Shane recently. His voice may not have been ‘perfect’ but it was truly honest and his gift of lyric writing was brilliant.

[@deborahnicholas6200]

Shane's voice was better than perfect xx

[@simonatkinson1107]

@@deborahnicholas6200 I agree. His perfection was in the flaws his voice had compared to someone with a ‘professionally trained’ voice. At least that was the point I was trying to make.

[@johnallsopp6324]

The Pogues were an original punk band in the UK but with Irish roots. They are UK musical royalty. Think how many great songwriters did not have traditionally ''good" voices - Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Leon Russell, etc. Their voices are an integral part of their songs. Regarding the meaning of the song there isn't one so don't look for a narrative; it's really a love song. Keep up the good reviews. Cheers.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

​@@Micheal447false.

[@fionadutton8149]

@@Micheal447 wrong

[@papercup2517]

@@Micheal447 I think they would probably identify as an Anglo-Irish/Celtic/Punk-inspired band with Irish roots. IIRC, Shane McGowan was born in England and lived partly in England and partly in Ireland as a child, eventually settling in Dublin. So, yes, UK Irish, writing about Irish immigrants to the US.

[@elizajohn5]

Correct.@@Micheal447

[@elizajohn5]

His parents were 100% Irish. Shane Mcgowan hadn`t a drop of English blood in him.@@papercup2517

[@barryaitchison5565]

they sang that at shanes funeral and it was amazing.merry christmas and all the best for 2024

[@jeffstevens4262]

The song is very special to all of us here in the UK. It's basically a love story fuelled by drugs & alcohol but at the end of the day, they're both dancing together in the video because they love each other and of course, it's Christmas and they're two Brits in New York, so all the romance of their situation comes through so beautifully. God rest both Shane & Kirsty. 💔 💔

[@kevcall]

Not British, Irish... There's a difference 😊

[@jeffstevens4262]

@@kevcall Definitely. What I meant to say was the song is special to ALL of us here in the UK and Ireland equally.

[@izzzy03]

this is THE Christmas song, about struggles, dreams and hope... rest are jingles for supermarkets :)

[@Mr_Dopey]

In my opinion, the best display of his voice is "The Band Played Waltzing Matlida."

[@auldfouter8661]

Shane and Kirsty both met sad ends. Galway Bay is a place in Ireland , so presumably has a traditional song composed about it. . Kirsty MacColl was the daughter of radical folk singer Ewan MacColl and she had a folk and pop career in the UK but died in a tragic accident protecting her children.

[@Dreyno]

The song is “Galway Bay” and it isn’t “traditional” as such. It was written in 1947 and was popularised by Bing Crosby.

[@auldfouter8661]

@@Dreyno I might have known from the context.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

Kirsty was vacationing off the island of Cozumel, Mexico. There was a section of the beach and ocean with bouyes to warn small boats away. A speedboat went through, and she was hit. There was no actual procecution for murder - story is the man on the speedboat paid off the authorizes. There was/is a campaign by Kirsty’s family and fans for Justice. In 2015, I was on a Disney cruise with with family. We stopped a day on tour of Cosumel, had a good day of culture and food -and, then I remembered Kirsty. I have several of her records.

[@stickytapenrust6869]

The start of the song is set in 1987, but the bit after the music drops are where they meet up again after many years and think back to their relationship in 1947, “cars as big as bars”, “Sinatra was swinging” and “boys of the NYPD choir were singing ‘Galway Bay’” are all references to that year. Unfortunately I don’t think the video director got this as the accompanying footage for that part of the song still shows 1987 New York, they haven’t changed anything to make it look like 1947. The characters in this were in an abusive relationship and he was doing that thing that men in abusive relations do (those where men are the abusers) where they remember it with very rose-tinted spectacles whereas she is remembering it *exactly* how it was, with him being abusive hence the scene of them both fighting and pushing each other and the “you took my dreams from me when I first found you” lyric.

[@JoP590]

Galway Bay was written by a Dr Arthur Colohan and became a huge hit for Bing Crosby after the war. It is the sort of modern sentimental Irish ballad which was immensely popular with Irish Americans at the time. I am sure Shane was well aware of its connotations and it is a deliberate choice. Her are the lyrics: Galway Bay" lyrics: If you ever go across the sea to Ireland Then maybe at the closing of your day You can sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh And see the sun go down on Galway Bay Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream The women in the meadow making hay Just to sit beside the turf fire in a cabin And watch the barefoot gossoons as they play Ooooh... For the breezes blowing o'er the seas from Ireland Are perfumed by the heather as they blow And the women in the uplands diggin praties Speak a language that the English do not know Yet the English came and tried to teach us their ways And they scorned us just for being what we are But they might as well go chasin after moonbeams Or light a penny candle from a star And if there's gonna be a life hereafter And faith somehow, I'm sure there's gonna be I will ask my God to let me make my Heaven In that dear land across the Irish sea.

[@jimbrown1303]

The Pogues are an example of what would have happened if James Joyce, Oscar Wilde or Yeats could have formed a band to communicate beautiful and thought-provoking prose to the public. Shane Macgowan is our generation's example of an Irish poet whose real impact will be felt many years later.

[@easylabeler]

You forgot Brendan Behan and JP Donleavy

[@jimbrown1303]

@@easylabeler Completely agree! we could go on for days though...

[@simontemplar3359]

Shane was a poet for sure. His life was a paradox. He was Irish, but happened to be born in England on Christmas Day no less. His lyric writing is at a level lots of people never reach. A few things I love- Galway bay is kind of a joke. It hss a line about the singer's wife having a mouth "as big as Galway Bay." Also, Shane couldn't play the piano. So when you see him, you never see his hands. When you see hands playing the piano, you never see the rest of him. These guys are tremendous. The albums "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash" and "If I should fall from grace with God" are triumphs of beauty, ugliness, tragedy, and the very particular way that Shane MacGowan could articulate them. He really was a poet and like many truly great artists and writers, he also had demons and struggles. He just died recently. I know he genuinely was a man of faith, and I hope that he has gone on to be with the Lord.

[@michaelgrabner8977]

Actually Shane was born in Irland and got raised there as well but his family moved to England while he was still in a very young age right before he got sent to school...So he missed his home Ireland and got homesick and that genuine desire for Irland you can feel in all his songs.

[@JoP590]

The piano accompaniment was played by James Fearnley who normally played the accordion. He had a real struggle accompanying Shane’s phrasing!

[@danielhead8123]

Wrong he was born in Pembury

[@michaelgrabner8977]

@@danielhead8123 Directly after the delivery the MacGowen familiy headed back to Ireland. Shane´s whole childhood till the age of 7 he grew up and got socialized in Tipperary/Irland. So his not planned birthplace in Kent had no impact or what´s so ever at all, or do you honestly think because of that Shane felt "British" and considered himself as a Brit?

[@AnneDowson-vp8lg]

No, he did not consider himself British, as he regretted not joining the IRA, but tried to put over the Irish Republican viewpoint in his songwriting.

[@petersutton2182]

I'm absolutely not a Pogues fan, but credit to where is due. This is absolute genius!

[@chefskiss6179]

Honestly, the season hasn't started for me until I've heard this gem, as well as Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas, and Greg Lake's I Believe In Father Christmas :)

[@neilsun2521]

Band Aid's a bit dumb though ain't it -- xmas isn't even celebrated in Africa! Also the name 'band aid' as in 'plaster' is fitting cause the funds raised were as useful as a big expensive plaster.

[@michaelaharris6615]

Totally agree with band aid and pogues making xmas 😊

[@littlecatfeet9064]

My favourite Christmas song of all time. Lots of people blasting it in Australia too. Merry Christmas 🎄!

[@mariannes.1525]

I am from Norway and this song is played a lot om Norwegian radio every year 🧑🏻‍🎄🎅🏼. It is legendary ☺️🥰

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

Galway is on the West coast of Ireland. It’s not like a port for shipping, more fishing. Ireland sent many to the America lands, after the 1840’s famine (including my ancestors) - famine, the best food was taken by the British, who ruled Ireland (so fish, lamb, grain, etc were taken, and when the potato crop had a series of organic blight, many starved, or left by ship to America. (@1845) On the West Coast of Ireland, there are rough rock cliffs, wind across the ocean…the Atlantic until the America’s. “Galway bay”. My Irish ancestors left from Cork. Visited Ireland 3 times. Feels like home. I saw The Pogues live, been a fan of their music since 1985.

[@jimmcgann]

The Pogues Irish to the core 😊 liking your studio

[@zinnia2980]

Shane's voice was legendary, gritty and brilliant ❤️ Amazing singer songwriter. We miss you. Love The Pogues and the much loved Kirsty. Rest in Paradise ❤️

[@hahatoldyouso]

My favourite Christmas song! and I wouldn't say 'bad', I'd say 'REAL'!

[@newgrl]

R.I.P Kirsty and Shane. Have a look at "Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill performing Fairytale of New York at Shane MacGowan’s funeral". Beautiful sendoff. He passed in November.

[@samjo27]

Nick caves version of rainy night in soho at the funeral brought me to tears... perfection

[@ViDuhy]

Loved it

[@colin1487]

His voice absolutely suits this track perfectly. RIP Shane.

[@AP-gb3eh]

I could have been someone,well so could anyone 👏👏👏👏This is a honest beautiful song. We are not seeing voices of poets that live among us and we need that desperately. We are human, that means flawed . We need songs to laugh and cry with, hopefully to dance with into a better time ☮️

[@cpnlsn88]

There's a couple of lines that just hit and you think, Yes, that's true.

[@cherrylattimore99]

They're Irish as far as I know. I LOVE the Pogues. Lorelei is my fave. Very celtic band. You're right, his voice isn't going to please you vocally like say a Chris Stapleton but thie man is honest and his lyrics are poignant. I think you'll like their stuff. Happy Christmas as they say in England.

[@AlainnCorcaigh]

only Shane is Irish , the rest are English

[@anthonymullen6300]

​@@AlainnCorcaighWhere did you get that from Wikipedia? because it's incorrect, 3 of the members were born in Ireland excluding Shane, the rest had Irish ancestry. Growing up in England of Irish ancestry especially in the times of 70s "no blacks no dogs no Irish" wasn't easy. Calling The Pogues not Irish is like calling Rudyard Kipling India.

[@cherrylattimore99]

Thanks for clarifying. I thought they were more Irish than just Shane I admit though that even though I've been listening to them for decades I've never really dug into the bands personal info.

[@AltIrishMusic]

Shane was from Tipperary. He was only born in England because his parents were visiting relations on holidays. They later moved to England for work.

[@kevanwillis4571]

​@AlainnCorcaigh Shane was born in England. Went to Ireland as a child, and to London as a six year old. He went to Westminster School.

[@yournamehere6002]

Kirsty Maccoll was a brilliant singer songwriter, and she deserves more attention and love

[@papercup2517]

From Wikipedia: The Pogues were an English or Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band fronted by Shane MacGowan and others, founded in King's Cross, London, in 1982, as Pogue Mahone-an anglicisation by James Joyce of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse".

[@vincentvancraig]

Shane’s voice, like bob,Dylan’s, is REAL….u believe him…..also…..he does have a good voice, he’s just drunk, wasted as f*ck all the time….he passed away a few weeks ago at age 65, …his birthday was December 25th, 1957

[@mamalinhager]

❤ Enjoyed that thank you Merry Christmas ❤

[@schusterlehrling]

1.The boys of the NYPD choir are singing Galway Bay at the end of each stanza, because he is close to sleep in the Drink tank at Christmas Eve. 2. And while lying there first he imagines the past Christmas in which he met his wife, with Sinatra singing, kissing at the corner, dancing through the night. 3.The next stanza is about the current Christmas with the argument they had, in which his wife finally told him "Happy X-mas you arse, I pray God it's our last", to which there is no rebuttal from him. 4.The third stanza is about the future Christmas when He tries to reconcile with his wife. At first she again fights him (...and so could anyone")and does not belive in a happy future. But then He talks about their dreams and that he kept them and needs her to make them come true as they are built around her. 5.The end is still the NYPD choir singing the same song, so all of his half dreaming, half awoke mind images were actually done during one song. 6.Then it's an open end. He may fall asleep, and he may die in the drunk tank, reconcile with his wife or anything else, that is up to eye of the beholder.

[@adrianhughes8143]

Shane McGowan the male singer died and was buried in December 2023, and Kirsty McCall died some years ago pushing her son out of the way of a jet ski but she got hit by it and died, she saved her son's life in this incredible act and sacrifice of her life. Shane McGowan was born in England and brought up here but he had Irish parents and family in the Republic of Ireland just like my brother and I. He was proud of being Irish and is buried in the Republic of Ireland. The song Fairy Tale of New York is the most popular song in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, it is so loved and so were the Pogues with Shane McGowan and Kirsty McCall as in this song both of them singing together is just magical, may they both RIP. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE. 💂‍♂️💂‍♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇪🎅🎅🎄🎄🍺🍺🥂🥂💙💛🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@thisisadebrown]

The Pogues were an Irish band that played Irish music based on the old folk, tunes, look them up, they are amazing, shanties

[@thisisadebrown]

It is a sad fact that both these singers are no longer with us

[@neverexstinguished]

one of the most honest Christmas songs ever written, Merry Christmas

[@Yowza78]

Aww. You talked over my favorite lyric: I could have been someone. Well, so could anyone. I agree with you that this song's charm is that it shows you how real couples fight, and make up. We will say anything and then feel so bad for it.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

Shane just died like two weeks ago. Alcoholism. Kirsty McC’ died back in the 90’s - she was vacationing in Mexico, hit by a speedboat, swimming in the ocean. Kirsty was a rare talent herself. I saw The Pogues live, twice. This song is now often censored for the insults. Context of two drunks or homeless -the Irish curse. ☘️ 🥃🥹

[@A.guy.with.HIV23]

Shane died due to pneumonia

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

@@A.guy.with.HIV23 All the years of Alchohol and smoking, didn't help. A concert that I saw The Pogues in 1990, Shane couldn't finish, the other guys did the last songs. My Brother was in London in 1988, and got to see The Pogues, Shane couldn't;t finish, and Joe Strummer was in the audience, got up on stage, and The Pogues did a few Clash songs with, to end. Many thought that Shane wouldn't last this long.

[@grahamsmith9541]

Just after I watched this. The tribute version to Shane at his funeral came up in my recommendations. Posted by RTE the Irish public television network. Its the best cover that I have heard, surprisingly close to the original. Tried to post link but comment is removed

[@gavinsmith9016]

Shane MacGowan doesn't have a 'classically' good voice but it is a great voice for The Pogues. They were a great live band. Kirsty MacColl was great too, you should check out her solo music. I love her voice, just beautiful.

[@styot]

Fun story, here in the UK they played the swearing version on the radio for years, then one year they decided to censor it, and got hundreds of complaints about the censorship and had to start playing the swearing version again. 😂 Good old UK!

[@aaronherbison7316]

Galway bay on the west coast of Ireland. Being Irish we love this song and more poignant since we lost Shane this past few weeks and he was buried here in Ireland. This was sang at his funeral couple of weeks ago. Perfect voice for the music.

[@Dreyno]

He was cremated and his ashes spread on the River Shanon.

[@KotRFFXIV]

Long time Seb! Not sure why! (Been here since Pilkington days!) Hope you're well! Have a Great Christmas!

[@briang6815]

The lead singer Shane just died about a month ago.

[@RowdyRuth]

Jason and Travis Kelce rewrote the words to this and put it out as a Phillies Christmas special. They both sing really well, and it is actually pretty impressive.

[@tommcglone2867]

Shane McGowan was a one off. Despite his obvious flaws. I mean he was almost permenantly drunk. His lyrics were phenomenal. And Kirsty McColl well she was a force of nature. RIP to both of them

[@johnmccarthy-behindtheveil]

Its a # 1 Christmas song each year in U.K.

[@hhin]

Actually it never made number 1 in the UK.

[@danielhead8123]

Last Christmas was no1 for the first time this year

[@conceptahernandez-ce7ui]

Shane passed away on Dec 1st and his Birthday is on Christmas Day. He was English born but said his blood is Irish. Very good friends with Johnny Depp. He partied hard, lost his teeth and simply didn't give a fuck. He died in Ireland and is buried there. Kristy McColl was killed by a jet ski on vacay with her sons.

[@deborahcarrington9970]

"thank god It's christmas" - Queen

[@jamescrane2156]

Matt Dillon doing a cameo as the cop at the beginning.

[@simply_psi]

We like both the sweet saccharine Christmas songs and also the contrast songs that are a little more dark in the UK, others I love that are more thoughtful Christmas songs are Father Christmas by The Kinks, I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake and Stop the Cavalry by Jona Lewie songs like these add a little spice to the holidays

[@kevcall]

Greg Lake's is a great song

[@AnneDowson-vp8lg]

It's Stop the Cavalry by Jonah Louis. Calvary is where Jesus was crucified.

[@AnneDowson-vp8lg]

PS Sorry I thought you'd spelt Cavalry wrongly.

[@simply_psi]

@AnneDowson-vp8lg no worries, but also my spelling of Jona Lewie is also correct, he spells his name a little unusually

[@Janesorensen84014]

Loved your reaction to this awesome song!

[@davidmcc8727]

This song is loved in Britain it’s constantly played at Christmas

[@susancabret2899]

Beautiful…the best.. can’t stop listening to…😢

[@christinedowney]

The musical genius that was the (recently late) Shane MacGowan absolutely amazing he was English but moved to Ireland.The song is about the futile pursuit of the American Dream and the Irish diaspora...even the NYPD choir still sing Galway Bay (old Irish tune). The Pogues -the original punk. His voice is a well know style along the lines of L Cohen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and is bang on the pitch he wanted. They sang this at his funeral inside and outside of the Cathedral. So moving, he was a true poet.

[@stevelambert6404]

Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@suepoole8323]

Christmas is portrayed like a Movie, everything is perfect... but in real life people go short to make it as good as they can, they drink, gamble argue and make up... many a word spoken in haste... Both Kirsty and Shane have passed now.. Shane had a long lingering death with a brain disease.. Kirsty met an horrific end. At Shane's funeral they sang this in the Cathedral, and every one got up and was dancing and celebrating his life.. Shane was born in England.. but Dublin and all of Ireland adopted him.. Johnny Depp was a pall bearer at Shanes funeral they had been friends for decades.. Rest in Peace Shane It would be great to think You and Kirsty sang this up there behind those pearly gates...

[@nadeansimmons226]

His voice is amazing. How can you not get the raw beauty of his voice

[@user-ow9lq1bg8c]

What a song, unbelievable music, not manufactured, need more bands like this, best Christmas song ever, RIP Shane and Kirsty

[@emmadawson2360]

'The chick'? The late, great, Kirsty MacColl was a brilliant singer/songwriter. Her father was Ewan MacColl, who wrote, 'The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face'. Kirsty wrote, 'There's a guy works down the chip shop, swears he's Elvis', which is really rather good, to say the least. Your wife, or mother-in-law, will probably know about Kirsty. Kirsty was also responsible for the running order of The Joshua Tree, as her husband, (at the time), Steve Lillywhite, helped to mix some of the tracks.

[@johnbrowne2170]

Shane has a great voice.

[@Jinxs-Journey]

We absolutely love this song in uk at Xmas even now

[@louiselane806]

To say Shane McGowans voice is terrible is an insult to the Irish, and everyone in the UK.

[@brendandunleavy1399]

Shane would be laughing his arse off at being called a bad singer pal, merry Xmas

[@louiselane806]

@@brendandunleavy1399 very true, but I felt defensive, merry Christmas to you too

[@johnreilly9452]

Its really a tale of a couple who have fallen on hard times had their own demons but still remember the good times at Christmas time gone bye If anything it's the perfect Christmas song. Kirsty McColl came from legendary folk music aristocracy her father Ewan McColl wrote the classic The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

[@susannehouse3857]

This song is huge in the UK……it’s a firm favourite.

[@redfog42]

Best Christmas song ever!

[@lindasmith4171]

Discovered this in a movie with Kathy Bates. Hillary Swank, P.S. I Love You. Great movie ❤

[@carolineyates4746]

A famous UK hit song thats played every Christmas and I never get tired of it. Kirsty MacColl tragically died in 2000 when she was swimming with her 2 sons and a speed boat headed straight for them, she managed to push her son out of the way but the boat hit her and killed her, she was only 41.. the person piloting the boat was charged with culpable homicide and sentenced to 2yrs 10months in prison. Shane MacGowan died in hospital on the 30th November 2023 so not long ago, he had been fighting infections for a while and ended up dying from pneumonia, his birthday was Christmas day. One thing, Shane couldn't play the piano, so when you see his hands with his rings on its not him

[@simonmetcalfe5926]

If you look at Shane's voice electronically, it's shocking just how perfectly accurate his notes are.

[@patriciafinn5717]

Loved your reaction..same as me many moons ago..rip shane and kirsty..never to be replaced..❤❤❤

[@jeanspruill6612]

I love "Christmas in Dixie" by the group Alabama they are a country band but this song is just a classic

[@anniemayne-xe6ft]

ME TOO

[@jamesmcbride174]

another alternative Christmas song you should react to is Chris de Burgh a spaceman came travelling Merry Christmas to you and your family from Glasgow Scotland

[@theresareeves8492]

FANTASTIC ❤❤

[@podunkcitizen2562]

"The boys of the NYPD choir still singing Galway Bay. I don't know what that means". It means, the boys of the NYPD choir still singing Galway Bay. But in reality, there is no NYPD choir, they show the NYPD Pipe and Drum Band.

[@elizamarz7607]

It’s not a song about hope for a better life in America, it’s an inditement on the fantasy of the American dream which is not a reality for the majority of immigrants. It’s basically saying it’s shit here it’s shit there love is shit full of hot air BUT without love and hope it’s worse so hold on to someone’s hand and buy into the dream at least for today. Just my interpretation feel free to add your own. This is my favourite Christmas song of all time. I love Kirsty McColl and Shane McGowan was indeed a poet.

[@elizamarz7607]

Oliver’s Army by Elivis Costello is my second favourite so if you fancy giving that a watch you wont’t be disappointed

[@daveloboda1769]

Second only to "I Believe in Father Christmas" as the best Christmas song ever. Wonderful.

[@user-wm5go1cb6x]

my wife heard the song and then I saw the smile i first saw when I asked her to be my wife it made me so very happy and then i kissed her.

[@tomjohnston1220]

Galway Bay and The Rare Old Mountain Dew are both very old famous Irish songs. Some of The Pogues are Irish and others are the children of Iriish immigrants to London. Kirsty's father was a Scottish folk singer called Ewan MacColl, who wrote a song called Dirty Old Town, which The Pogues recorded. Ewan MacColl also wrote The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, a huge hit record for Roberta Flack.

[@brookemiley4927]

This is played everywhere in the UK this time of year! Shane was a brilliant lyricist and brought such an authenticity to his music!

[@biddygow]

Shane was a son of Ireland. He has a great celtic punk voice. He once said “we’re much better sober, but we have more fun drunk” 🇮🇪

[@valdas420]

shane died this month and I've read he made 500k a year of royalties just for this song

[@87leeb]

BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER

[@beaandjuno]

I apologize for Americans that say crap like his voice isnt good and totally miss the masterpiece of the song. Its sacred to many of us, Rip, Kirsty and Shane

[@karenfoster9594]

We always say it's not Christmas 'till we've heard Fairytale of New York

[@seanscanlon9067]

Galway Bay is a place on the west coast of Ireland but is also a traditional Irish song. Hence: The boys of the NYPD choir Were singing Galway Bay And the bells were ringing out For Christmas day

[@ldy1953]

Love this band and RIP Shane ! Saw them live in the 80’s ( Vancouver )and in the 90’s ( LA ) In the 80’s they played with only microphones amplifying. No electric instruments and they blew the roof off despite the fact we were in an open air amphitheater.

[@KeshHarp]

Heaven is having the best craic now. Shane and Kirsty singing it together again. Kirsty's passing and Shane's birthday so close together. Can't hate ye for not getting it.. just pity ye can't enjoy it for what it is.

[@chrisnicolaisen1477]

It's just amazing.

[@michaelaharris6615]

I'm from UK. We love this banger of a tune because its real to life its not all slushy . Its got such a fab tune too. Sadly both of these have now died, shane (male singer), recently on 30th Nov, I think. He was an absolute artist. And poet some say he knew how to write a song thats for sure this is my no1 fave xmas song ever & has been since i was 7 when it first came out...u should listen to rainy night in soho & Irish rover absolutely brilliant!!

[@kerriwightman3141]

Makes Ireland proud!! What a legend!!!

[@briankeniry219]

Two things. 1. Christmas is a time when many people look back and often what they see is not success and happiness but times that didn't work out as they hoped. So, christmas can be a sad sentimental time. 2. The lyrics to this song are pretty scant. Few words but a lot of meaning. There's a big story here within very few words. The pogues are an Irish band playing Irish music but I think all were born in London, or thereabouts, but with Irish ancestry and most of all Shane McGowan, God bless his soul. The exception is the female singer, Kirsty Maccoll (macaul) who was the daughter of Ewan Maccoll one of the best folk composers of the 20c. You should check out the Pogues covering one of his songs called Dirty Old Town.

[@typicalskeptic]

merry christmas i just shared this on my channel. I saw this performed live in vegas, and all i can say is rest in peace shane, and you can go down a rabbit hole learning about the death of Kristy. Merry Christmas and RIP To both Legends. Thank you for sharing.

[@hasteurcat]

This is the song live at Shane's funeral a few weeks ago(born Dec 25). amazing . The female singer Kirsty Macool also died around Christmas in 2000. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKSbnamkiNJ8icU

[@valeriewalker3886]

It's not xmas till this song is played in the pubs and clubs and on the radio in the uk.

[@irishmike4914]

A friend of ours the night we found out that he died said that the best way to describe is the Irish Jonny Cash. Very fitting i thought

[@goarmymarines51]

My favorite!

[@lyngusrobb5323]

Shane MacGowan's voice is one of my favorite vocals ever. I think it's pretty hot.

[@huffy2722]

The greatest Christmas song of all time. The beautiful Irish melody with the reality of many peoples lives. Hey ho, we might be in a different town or Country and things are going as planned but we are going to enjoy Christmas anyway, that's the beauty of the song. This song literally tears the roof of our local pub when it's played, everyone singing along, arms locked in a mutual appreciation and knowledge that we all have are own issues (which this song resonates) but we will enjoy the moment anyway.

[@vikkigiles2977]

One of my favourite Christmas songs (I live in the UK) It’s not Christmas until I hear this played on the radio. Words have been changed to make it more PC for today’s times, what you watched was the original track. Both are no longer with us. Shane passed recently and Kirsty was killed early 2000’s whilst on holiday in Mexico. She saved her son from a powerboat accident, which was in a restricted area. She took the full brunt but managed to push her son out of the way. Tragic ❤️

[@Ronnie-nh1wl]

R.i.P. both Shane and Kirsty