Instead of listening to your beautiful voice singing "Dancing in the Dark" and other songs, I have become almost obsessed with the life and works of Shane MacGowan. If I had ever heard of the Pogues, I'd long since forgotten, and not until his death did I know of Shane MacGowan. Danny had emailed me that news, and mentioned that he had wanted one of his songs played at his wedding, but that the DJ had forgotten it. I think he said the song was "Dirty Old Town," which intrigued me enough to go to google and acquaint myself with Shane MacGowan and the Pogues.
I did learn that Fairytale of New York is considered by many, even the erudite, to be one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, and indeed is the most listened to "Christmas song" in such places as Great Britain and Ireland. (That would be worth a million or more of "All I Want For Christmas." Ugh.
The first line: "It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank." Now some devotees of MacGowan claim to find the song both hilarious and heartbreaking as the rise and fall of a young couple in love in the city is recounted in shockingly vivid language. "Happy Christmas, you arse, I hope it's our last." I would agree that this song and others is testament to the brilliance and creativity of the writer/ singer, but, Irish as I may be, I don't get the hilarity. I see heartbreak. "The boys of the NYPD Choir still singing Galway Bay, and the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day."
It appears to be true, though I can't vouch for its authenticity, that Johnny Depp, longtime friend of Shane MacGowan, had interloper Megan Markle ousted from the funeral service in the cathedral.
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