For the first time since we've been singing together, my friend Pat and I will not be doing Christmas in Liberal Valley this year.
For the past couple of years, some wonderful Left-leaning friends in Conservative Lake County, Florida have been nice enough to have us over to participate in the sort of barter economy that built this country.
She brings a guitar and I a bodhran and, in exchange for all the food we can eat (along with some excellent beer and wine), we try to entertain our hosts and various guests by singing what our old radio program directors called "sounds of the season".
Unfortunately, simply having the Holiday fall on a Tuesday this year is enough to scuttle everybody's plans.
I myself haven't even begun my shopping, but that's for another post.
Despite our respective radio backgrounds, Pat and I have not always offered music that could be called "radio friendly".
Songs by Steve Earle, The Moody Blues and a beautiful song she wrote for a radio play of hers are usually on the set list. This year we've managed to add "Last Man at the Party" from the Jethro Tull Christmas Album, and a lesser known gem by Stephen Stills.
We are nothing, if not eclectic.
One song we've been playing around with is "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues. It's a genuine duet, with an Irish base that we thought we would take to immediately.
Frankly, it just isn't ready this year.
Like most things written by Shane MacGowan the song is a lot more complex and harder to do than one might imagine. Yet once we get it under the fingers, it will be the kind of song that I call a real crowd pleaser.
That's why I was somewhat surprised to read the article in the The Guardian newspaper Pat sent me, reporting the song was banned by the BBC! Apparently, the lyrics were found to be offensive to some tender ears.
England...Great Britain...the land that brought us the Sex Pistols, quickly followed by the word "Bollocks" seems to be offended by the words of a single drunken Irishman!
(Shane, not that other Irishman, Johnny Lydon.)
It should be pointed out that the song "Fairytale of New York" was on an album released 20 years ago, was the number one Christmas song last year (as chosen by BBC listeners) and nobody seemed the least bit bothered by the lyrics at all.
What's that?
You mean you haven't actually heard the song?
Well, my friend, that's why God created You Tube!
Since you've been really, really good...I picked the original promotional music video.



So I ask you...What's all the fuss about?
Sounds like the usual dysfunctional Irish Christmas to me.
I would have loved to hear Bing Crosby try this one.

!!! UPDATE !!!
Apparently the Beeb has reconsidered it's decision.
Now comes the rioting in Brixton, Notting Hill and Hampstead Village, no doubt.