The making of the Pogues ‘Fairytale of New York’ - SEE VIDEO

Greatest Christmas hit song almost wasn’t made

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NIALL O'DOWD,

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Read more: Top Irish carols and hymns to get you in the Christmas spirit - SEE VIDEOS

It is the most famous Irish Christmas song ever written, arguably the greatest Christmas song of its generation, and it has only grown in popularity since it was released in 1987.

The Pogues "Fairtytale of New York” is a Christmas classic, yet it very nearly never got made.

The song is the story of two down on their luck Irish emigrants in New York around Christmas time. It depicts their stormy relationship but their deep love and affection behind it all.

It is a poignant, beautiful song that has stood the test of time and many believe is the greatest Christmas song ever. Even today it is the most requested Christmas song on the airwaves in Britain and Ireland. In America VHI voted it the greatest Christmas song of all time.

Described by the BBC in as the “oral antidote to tinsels and sleigh bells” the Fairytale began life as an attempt at a  sentimental Christmas song, written by the band’s Jem Finer.

Then led singer and resident genius Shane MacGowan got invoved in the act and the song quickly became the most surprising Christmas hit ever, not about Santa and sleigh bells but drunken addicts and Irish immigrants down on their luck in new York.

A Christmas song that opens with a scene in a New York drunk tank seemed an unlikely hit but Fairty Tale was all that and more. It has entered the Christmas charts every year since its release, and is currently at No.19 in England.

Hollywood star Matt Dillon got roped in to the video as did the NYPD Irish pipe band impersonating the NYPD choir which is a main feature of the song but which actually did not exist.

Shane MacGowan was never going to settle for a feel good song. Born in Tipperary he had moved to London at an early age but kept his fierce sense of Irish pride even though it was a very bad time to be Irish in England with an IRA campaign going on.

MacGowan formed two bands, the Nipples Erectus and the Irish Republicans, neither of which lasted long.

The third  one proved more lasting. The band was originally called Pogue Mahone from the Gaelic to ‘kiss my ass’ but immediately became known as The Pogues.

As the band became famous with Shane’s version of Irish folk punk it soon began eyeing America and the huge Irish American population here.

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