96. Fairytale of New York by The Pogues 1987

The kids are getting excited because they're putting up the Xmas decorations down Koornang Road. Not so long to go now.. And this is the best Xmas song ever!

Last night we were driving to the city to have dinner for my sister in law Irene's birthday. Coming off the freeway and onto Batman Avenue we passed the banks of the murky Yarra and saw all the groups of people having barbeques in the warm spring night. Liz said it's been a long time since she did that. "Me too" I said. In the eighties there would be regular barbecues by the river. A bunch of friends with an Esky and a supply of beer wine and sausages. sometimes the girls would put together a salad. And bread and tomato sauce. More importantly music. I always had a ghetto blaster tucked in the boot of my car for emergencies. At one of the Xmas barbecues this song had just come out. Leanne S turned up singing the lines from the song. And we kept on singing all night long!

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 arse I pray god it´s our last.

brilliant!

Later I would take Xmas mixes to dinner parties. Amongst yer Wham et al this song stood out. Everyone loves it. Or so I hope.

Maybe I should get myself together and organise a BBQ by the river. My kids haven't done that yet. and it's getting mighty close to Christmas.