English
Fairytale of New York
25 views
Jul 30, 2026
Original Lyrics
English
[Verse 1: Shane MacGowan]
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
[Verse 2: Kirsty MacColl, Shane MacGowan, Both]
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
You might also like
Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]
Taylor Swift
The Shoe Fits
Drake
Lovin On Me
Jack Harlow
[Chorus: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day
[Verse 3: Kirsty MacColl & Shane MacGowan]
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: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir, still singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day
[Verse 4: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
"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: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir, still singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day
[Instrumental Outro]
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
[Verse 2: Kirsty MacColl, Shane MacGowan, Both]
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
You might also like
Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]
Taylor Swift
The Shoe Fits
Drake
Lovin On Me
Jack Harlow
[Chorus: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day
[Verse 3: Kirsty MacColl & Shane MacGowan]
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: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir, still singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day
[Verse 4: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
"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: Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir, still singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day
[Instrumental Outro]
Translation
English
N/A
Meaning & Explanation
The song is a raw and brutally honest portrayal of a tumultuous and often destructive relationship during the Christmas season. It depicts a couple’s history filled with addiction, broken promises, harsh words, and ultimately, a desperate clinging to hope for a better future despite years of hardship and emotional turmoil. The lyrics capture the complexities of love, regret, and the enduring power of dreams even in the face of significant challenges.