Fairytale Of New York – English Lyrics

• By: The Pogues, Kirsty MacColl

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the unique language of dreams and despair in The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York." This iconic Christmas song, featuring Kirsty MacColl, offers a raw and emotional journey through the lives of Irish immigrants in New York, capturing both the city's allure and its harsh realities. Explore how this song blends traditional Irish sounds with a cynical narrative, challenging conventional holiday cheer while offering profound insights into the human condition.

[English]

♪♪

♪ 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 18 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 ♪

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

♪ They got cars big as bars ♪

♪ They 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 ♪

♪ 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 ass ♪

♪ I pray God it's our last ♪

♪ The boys of the NYPD choir ♪

♪ Still singing "Galway Bay" ♪

♪ And the bells are 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've built my dreams around you ♪

♪ The boys of the NYPD choir ♪

♪ Still singing "Galway Bay" ♪

♪ And the bells are ringing out ♪

♪ For Christmas day ♪

♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ A1	noun - the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something greatly desired
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of deep affection for (someone or something) noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - make musical sounds with the voice, especially words with a set tune
drunk /drʌŋk/ B1	adjective - affected by alcohol to the extent of losing control of one's faculties or behaviour noun - a person who is drunk
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the fingers and thumb
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town or metropolis
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
bell /bel/ A1	noun - a hollow metal object, typically cup-shaped, that resonates when struck, producing a ringing sound
lying /ˈlaɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface verb - present false information, with the intention of deceiving
dead /ded/ A2	adjective - no longer alive
last /læst/ A1	adjective - coming after all others in time or order; final
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - aspirations; ambitions
band /bænd/ A2	noun - a group of musicians who play together

Key Grammar Structures

• Won't see another one

  ➔ Future Simple Negative (Will not/Won't)

  ➔ The structure "will not" (contracted to "won't") expresses a prediction about the future. Here, it indicates the old man's belief that he "won't" experience another Christmas.

• Came in 18 to one

  ➔ Past Simple

  ➔ "Came" is the past tense of "come". This sentence describes a completed action in the past, referring to winning at odds of 18 to 1.

• This year's for me and you

  ➔ Possessive Case ('s)

  ➔ The "'s" indicates possession. "This year's" means "this year is" or "this year belongs to". It signifies that the year is special or designated for them.

• Broadway was waiting for me

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense (was/were + V-ing)

  ➔ "Was waiting" indicates an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It suggests that Broadway's opportunities were available and expected at that past time.

• You're a bum, you're a punk

  ➔ Contraction (You're = You are)

  ➔ The use of "You're" which is a contraction of "You are". This is a common way to shorten phrases in spoken and informal written English. It is used to launch into a string of insults.

• I pray God it's our last

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Implied "that")

  ➔ The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or demands. The structure implies "I pray (that) God it's our last". Though the "that" is omitted, the sentence conveys a strong wish or hope. Note that in formal grammar, after 'pray' you would use 'be' so it would be 'I pray God *be* our last'

• I could have been someone

  ➔ Third Conditional (Modal verb + have + past participle)

  ➔ "Could have been" indicates a possibility in the past that did not happen. It expresses regret or unfulfilled potential. It implies "If things had been different, I could have been someone else/more successful."

• I've built my dreams around you

  ➔ Present Perfect (have/has + past participle)

  ➔ "I've built" is the contraction of "I have built", which is the present perfect tense. This tense connects a past action with the present. In this context, it suggests that the process of building dreams around the other person started in the past and its effects are still felt in the present.