This is the best Christmas song, ever.
Interesting little fact here, they never actually intended for Kirsty to be the female vocals on this. Her husband at the time, Steve Lillywhite, was producing The Pogues and got his wife to sing the lyrics “just for now.” Everyone loved her performance so much she stayed on the song.
The NYPD pipe band featured in this video are not actually playing “Galway Bay” as they didn’t know it. They played something they did know and the footage was slowed down accordingly.
You can read all the fabulous little facts about this song in an article by NME here
I adore this song because like most things, Christmas is not all perfect families and ribbons and smiles, and this song is such a great reflection of this. Not to bring the mood down, but I always raise a glass to Kirsty MacColl at this time of year, as her death was a tragedy and a humongous loss to music.
I hope everyone has a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
From the album: If I should fall from grace with God
Released: January 1988 (single released December 1987)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q%26h%3D620%26w%3D420
