While a lot of popular Christmas songs are about presents, family, and various snow-related activities, Fairytale of New York by the Pogues is about an alcoholic sleeping off a binge in a drunk tank. And how about these lyrics to warm your cockles:

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 ass
I pray God its our last

This song definitely puts the “Merry” in “Merry Christmas.”

But here’s the thing: it’s an awesome song. It’s been covered by a bunch of artists and the song has consistently been on various “Greatest Christmas Songs of All-Time” lists in the UK. Figures the UK would put a song about a alcoholism and drug addiction in the number one spot. But I have to agree with them. This song is wonderful.

Buy the song here.