It's a rarity to meet someone who doesn't know the lyrics by heart and even more ... With all this in mind, the Fairytale of New York controversy could be resolved with one thing: context.

Hozier performed on "SNL's" Christmas edition, and for his second song, the Irish artist paid tribute to the Pogues' classic "Fairytale of New York." ...

Some of the most beloved Christmas songs are a bit rough around the edges, from the hokey and macabre “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” to the Pogues’ controversial “Fairytale of New ...

Hozier brought a touch of Irish Christmas magic to the finale of Saturday Night Live’s 50th season, performing a poignant rendition of The Pogues’ classic Fairytale of New York. The December ...

Hozier masterfully covered The Pogues' Christmas classic "Fairytale ... in New York City needs no explanation. The song, however, has been the focus of debate in recent years for lyrics that ...

I was looking at Twitter where a guy said that he loved The Pogues but every Christmas when he hears drunk blokes shouting that word in the street – when they’re singing along to ‘Fairytale ...

Shane MacGowan, frontman of The Pogues, died at the age of 65. Fairytale of New York, his most famous song, is a Christmas ...

The title "Fairytale of New York" came from a JP Donleavy short story of the same name. MacGowan says the inspiration for much of the haunting lyrics came from a period when he was delirious ...

Hozier staged a special performance of The Pogues’ holiday classic “Fairytale of New York” during Saturday Night Live ... verse that sanitized some of the song’s controversial lyrics. Earlier in the ...

Every Friday, pop critics for The New York Times weigh in on the week’s most notable new tracks. Listen to the Playlist on Spotify here (or find our profile: nytimes) and at Apple Music here, and sign ...