We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Purchasable with gift card

     

about

I've always wanted to record a Christmas song, and let's face it - this is the best Christmas song ever written.
I was having my usual post-Saturday-soccer 5pm brunch and I saw an article online about how Shane MacGowan had gotten teeth implants, and it suddenly came to me: "Shannon and I should record 'Fairytale of New York' immediately!'
I had a studio session booked that night and was planning to finish a Cure-style song I'd been working on, but instead I messaged Shannon and she learned the song in a matter of hours.
Charlie also learned the song in a matter of a couple of hours - coming up with a piano accompaniment that ties the song together beautifully.

lyrics

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 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

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 scum bag! You maggot!
You cheap lousy bigot!
Happy Christmas your arse! I pray God it's our last

The boys of the NYPD choir still singing 'Galway Bay'
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day

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 built my dreams around you

And the boys of the NYPD choir still singing 'Galway Bay'
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day

credits

released December 20, 2015
Written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan
Recorded by The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl
Originally released 1988
This version recorded by Ronan Conroy, Shannon Marie Brown, and Charlie Nieland

Vocals - Ronan Conroy and Shannon Marie Brown
Guitars - Ronan Conroy
Piano - Charlie Nieland

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ronan Conroy New York

contact / help

Contact Ronan Conroy

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Fairytale of New York, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now