End of the fairytale

TNC youth correspondent, Jack Watson, gives an update on the depressing level of censorship at Christmas.

I recently watched Free Speech Nation, with Andrew Doyle, and learned that The Pogues’ Christmas classic (Fairytale of New York) is to be censored once again. I am a huge fan of the hit, in fact it must be my favourite Christmas song of all time. The lyrics are genuinely moving. However, it looks like the song is going to be ruined due to the allegedly homophobic language used in one of the verses.

Every year at school I request it; sometimes they play it and sometimes they do not. From years four to six, they would play it in school. But when I got to secondary school, only the older teachers would allow it to be played – even bravely neglecting to mute the ‘foul language’. Unfortunately, the younger teachers were wary of the song, and refused – insisting that it included offensive language. I always heard the song on the radio when I was younger. In the past three years though, I have not heard the song being played; not even the ‘clean’ version.

At the time the song was released, 1988, the offending word ‘faggot’ meant a ‘bundle of sticks bound together as fuel’, as well as an Irish slang term for a lazy person. Obviously, at the time, the writers could not have envisaged the ultra-sensitive times we now live in. Furthermore, as the song concerns a bickering heterosexual couple, the intention to cause offence is even less likely – an argument confirmed by Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan. 

I recently wrote a blog – The World Has Gone ‘Mad’ –  about how words have changed over time. It is the same scenario here; the word ‘faggot’ is now it seems, classed exclusively as a homophobic term. Spotify have even changed the lyrics. It is absurd. They have altered ‘You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot’ to ‘You scumbag, you maggot, you’re cheap and you’re haggard.’ You can tell that it is not even the original artist – Kirsty McColl, who died years ago. Artists such as Eminem use far worse language than The Pogues. Songs like I need a doctor and Stan include either suicidal references or homophobic language. I understand that the Radio must beep or cut out parts of Eminem’s songs; however, he is still being played.

People need to stop rewriting history (and that includes the history of art), because there is almost nothing left which people will not now take offence at. How long for instance before the words ‘bum’, ‘arse’ and ‘slut’ are removed – that won’t leave many lyrics for us to play with! Those who are offended by the song can simply refuse to listen to it. But those who claim offence on behalf of the rest of the planet, are going too far; you do not get to ruin music for the rest of us. 

Fairytale Of New York is an incredible piece of music, and we need to realise that this is a narrative about a couple, in the 1980s. The wife referring to her husband as a ‘faggot’ was not a homophobic slur. You can still listen to the proper version of the song on YouTube, one of the last platforms where you can access the original. Let’s hope it does not get taken off there.

In the meantime, there are plenty of real things for gay people to get offended by. Perhaps the recent World Cup in Qatar, where they celebrate homosexuality with the death penalty? Maybe we could start there. 

Jack Watson has a Substack newsletter called Ten Foot Tigers about being a Hull City fan. You can subscribe here.