Your top Christmas song is set in the underbelly of New York City, and guaranteed to melt the hardest of hearts. An anthem for anyone who finds themselves staring into the bottom of a glass, reminiscing about lost love and wasted opportunities. Certain to provoke raucous sing-a-longs in bars across the globe until the end of time. Here's the late Kirsty MacColl performing live with Pogues on St. Patrick's Day back in 1988.

Fact: the song's typically Irish lyrics include the words “faggot” (slang for a lazy person) and “slut,” which BBC Radio One deemed unsuitable for its listeners in 2007. Literally on the same evening of the ban, the Beeb reversed its decision. To this day, however, VH1 still scramble the offending lyrics, plus the word “arse.”

The Pogues themselves found the whole incident “amusing.”

Written by: Jem Finer, Shane MacGowan

Listen: The Pogues - Fairytale of New York

Buy: Fairytale Of New York | The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God

Your votes:

"Best Christmas song? Either Fairytale Of New York or We Dress Up Like Snowmen by the Wave Pictures." (Thanks, hotfavoruite)

"The best Christmas songs ever are...
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John & Yoko
Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues
Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys." (Thanks, yossarianlives)

"Fairytale Of New York." (From philipcmeyer via Twitter, thanks)

"Fairytale Of New York." (Thanks, PaulWarning)

"Pogues. Game over." (Thanks, Fretmeister)

"The Pogues one is cool." (Thanks, MEhelper)

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Liked this? Now read: 14 kick-ass alternative Xmas anthems

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