I discovered the second best Christmas song ever by buying the CD with the best Christmas song ever.

And reader, you will scarcely believe it, but I actually had to drive across town to find a copy of that CD, “The Edge of Christmas.” Yes, this was back in the days before Amazon, and well before downloadable music was more than a sound file in some recording engineer’s dreams.

You may already know from previous posts that “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie is the best Christmas song, but how many of you knew “Fairy Tale of New York” sung by Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues is the second best?

Well, okay, maybe a lot of you, because I make this claim every year.

Still, it’s true, and what’s truly amazing is both are on the same CD.

It’s a Christmas miracle! (And I’m not being entirely facetious.)

“Fairy Tale” is, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated Christmas songs in existence. That might be because of the swearing, something not normally associated with the holiday season.

I find it refreshing, especially after one too many sickly sweet versions of “Santa Baby,” sung by this year’s reigning pop diva. (Or maybe last year’s, or even the one from the year before — I’m woefully behind on new music.)

So, if like me, you’re ready for a little dose of down and out reality, then you’re ready for “Fairy Tale of New York.”

For just the record (and yes, that probably is sort of a pun although no one calls them records anymore), “The Edge of Christmas” was definitely worth the drive. Buy it now in whatever format you prefer.