"Fairytale of New Born" - "Fairytale of New York" by Shane MacGowan adapted by The Marsh Family

Unquestionable one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, and hopefully on track to be the number one this year in the UK. So in the year that Ireland and the world lost one of its great modern troubadours, Shane MacGowan, here’s our adaptation of “Fairytale of New York” – first released by the Pogues with the wonderful Kirsty MacColl in 1987, and the most played non-carol Christmas song of the 21st century, written by MacGowan and Jem Finer. Its most powerful reincarnation was the amazing performance at his funeral by the Pogues and Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill.

Our parody version addresses that foundational mythical moment, the Nativity. It switches the characters Joseph and Mary in for the tortured lovers of the original, and – on the basis of four births of our own – imagines what that birthing moment for Christianity might actually have seemed like, had it happened in the way it’s often told…

Obviously people will have many strong views about faith, the gospels, the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas and its celebration, and the place of music, humour, and family. But this is just a bit of a laugh, and a chance to give a twist to one of our favourite songs of the season. We explore finding fake beards for the boys, but it was a step too far.

Hope you like it – and wishing everyone a massive Merry Christmas or alternative season’s greeting for some time out between now and the New Year. If you like it and you haven’t checked out any of our other stuff, PLEASE consider downloading or donating for our charity single “If That Day Comes Round” in support of the International Red Cross and their appeal for the victims of the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories conflict.

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LYRICS:

It was Christmas Eve, babe
Man, the place stank!
Innkeeper said to me
Won't find another one
The stench of dung was strong
The baby soon was due
I shoved some sheep away
That bleated at you

Contractions had begun
For someone else’s son
I sat there feeling
Not much for me to do
She sounded distressed
Having the baby
She would need a bit of time
When all the screaming’s through

I’ve got cows walking past
I’ve got shivers from cold
Cos the window’s, like, see through
And the hay’s full of mould
When i made my birth plan
I was oh so naive
No midwife or doula
Just strange men and sheep!

They were wise men
They were creepy
Seemed friendly
Seemed freaky
When the donkey was braying
They filed out the door
Weird gifts they were bringing
Random angels were singing
Then mystical shepherds
Who’d followed some light

The noise of the newborn child Messiah
Was stinging straightaway
And the 'guests' came in and out
On Christmas Day

In some hut full of junk
Trying to suckle god’s son
“Gas and air” only spread
By the ox in that shed
Each time when she'd cracked it
Some beard with a packet
Crashes in and imparts
He’s been guided by stars!

The voice of the newborn child Messiah
Starts bawling in the hay
And my patience running out
On Christmas Day

All hail the Virgin mum
Banged up in Bethlehem
Public maternity
Post-natal freeview
I couldn’t stop them babe
I would have if i’d known
But cherubs with trombones
Have filled the beams around you

The voice of the herald angels' choir
Doth sing and shout and pray
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas Day!

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