The Pogues: Fairytale Of New York

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Lyrics of alternative versions are far different
from the ones of the original recording


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

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

You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
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

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

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

(Chorus)

I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
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

(Chorus)

Fairytale Of New York
Written byShane MacGowan / Jem Finer
Performed byThe Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
Produced bySteve Lillywhite
Released1987-08
AlbumsThe Pogues: If I Should Fall From Grace With God, 1988
SinglesThe Pogues: Fairytale Of New York (single), 1987
CollectionsEssential Pogues, 1991
Best Of The Pogues, 1991
Very Best Of The Pogues, 2001
Length4.36

Alternate versions

Fairytale Of New York (extract from 1st Demo)
Performed byThe Pogues and Elvis Costello on piano
Produced byElvis Costello and The Pogues
RecordedAround or soon after Poguetry In Motion sessions.
Releasedc. 1986
CollectionsJust Look Them In The Eye And Say POGUEMAHONE!! The Pogues Box Set, 2008
Length4:33
NoteOne can hear EC counting "1, 2..1, 2, 3, 4" before piano starts.
Lyrics are different from definitive version.
OtherEngineered by Nick Robbins

Fairytale Of New York (extract from 2nd Demo)
Performed byThe Pogues and Elvis Costello on bass
Produced byElvis Costello and The Pogues
RecordedAround or soon after Poguetry In Motion sessions.
Releasedc. 1986
CollectionsJust Look Them In The Eye And Say POGUEMAHONE!! The Pogues Box Set, 2008
Length5:15
NoteLyrics are different from definitive version.
OtherEngineered by Nick Robbins


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