French folk tune from the 18th-19th century
Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo...
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Gloria, in excelsis Deo...
Written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson 1948, recorded by Elvis Presley 1957
I'll have a blue Christmas
without you
I'll be so blue just thinking
about you
Decorations of red
on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same dear
if you're not here with me
And when those blue snowflakes
start falling
That's when those blue memories
start calling
You'll be doing all right
With your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue
blue, blue Christmas
17th-century French dance tune
Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella
Bring a torch, come swiftly and run
Christ is born, tell the folk of the village
Jesus is sleeping in His cradle
Ah, ah, beautiful is the Mother
Ah, ah, beautiful is her Son
Hasten now, good folk of the village
Hasten now, the Christ-Child to see
You will find him asleep in the manger
Quietly come and whisper softly
Hush, hush, peacefully now He slumbers
Hush, hush, peacefully now He sleeps
Ross Bagdasarian's 1958 hit for Alvin and the Chipmunks
Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for toys and time for cheer
We've been good, but we can't last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late
1945, written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells for Nat King Cole
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping on your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows
a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies
on his sleigh
And every mother's child
is going to spy
To see if reindeer really
know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to 92
Although it's been said
many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
1965, Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson wrote this for the Charlie Brown special
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
Families drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn composed this in the 1950s at Frank Sinatra's request
Frosted window panes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes
On the tree
Santa's on his way
He's filled his sleigh with things
Things for you and for me
It's that time of year
When the world fall in love
Every song you hear
Seems to say
"Merry Christmas
May Your New Year dreams Come True"
And this song of mine
In three-quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too
16th-century Welsh melody with 19th-century English lyrics
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
‘Tis the season to be jolly
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Don we now our gay apparel
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
See the blazing yule before us
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Strike the harp and join the chorus
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Follow me in merry measure
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
While I tell of yuletide treasure
fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne penned this 1962 Cold War peace plea, popularized by Bing Crosby
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people, everywhere
Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
José Feliciano's 1970 bilingual hit
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Próspero año y felicidad
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart
Early 19th-century English carol draws on older folk roots
The first Noel
the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay
In fields where they
lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
that was so deep
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up
and saw a star
shining in the east
beyond them far
and to the earth
it gave great light
and so it continued both
day and night
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel
18th-century from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
God rest ye merry gentlemen
let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
when we are gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Pairs 19th-century English words with the medieval "In dulci jubilo" tune
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Give ye heed to what we say
News! news!
Jesus Christ is born today
Ox and ass before him bow
And He is in the manger now
Christ is born today
Christ is born today
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave
Peace! peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save
John Mason Neale's 1850s carol sets a 13th-century melody to a 10th-century saint's charity tale
Good King Wenceslas looked out
on the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay 'round about
deep and crisp and even
brightly shone the moon that night
though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
gath'ring winter fuel
"Hither, page, and stand by me
if thou know'st its telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
by St. Agnes' fountain
"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
when we bear them thither"
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
and the bitter weather
“Sire, the night is darker now
and the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
freeze thy blood less coldly"
In his master's steps he trod
where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
which the Saint had printed
Therefore my good friends, be sure
wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
shall yourselves find blessing
Elmo Shropshire and Patsy Trigg, 1979
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house
Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
She'd been drinking too much eggnog
And we begged her not to go
But she forgot her medication
And she staggered out the door into the snow
When we found her Christmas morning
At the scene of the attack
She had hoof-prints on her forehead
And incriminating Claus marks on her back
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house
Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Now we're all so proud of grandpa
He's been taking this so well
See him there watching football
Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel
It's not Christmas without Grandma
All the family's dressed in black
And we just can't help but wonder
Should we open up her gifts
Or send them back
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house
Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Charles Wesley's 1739 text with Mendelssohn's 1840 melody
Hark! the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane wrote this for 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be
out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on our troubles will be
miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star on the highest bough
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Ties to English wassailing for treats, printed in the 19th century
Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green
Here we come a-wand'ring
So fair to be seen
Love and joy come to you
And to you your wassail too
And God bless you and send you
A Happy New Year
And God send you a Happy New Year
Johnny Marks wrote this for Burl Ives in the 1964 special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Have a holly jolly Christmas
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
Have a holly jolly Christmas
When you’re walking down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh-ho, the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn't hear
Oh, by golly
Have a holly jolly Christmas this year
Robert Allen and Al Stillman's 1954 hit by Perry Como
Oh, there's no place like home
for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine of a
friendly gaze
For the holidays, you
can't beat home sweet home
I met a man who lives in Tennessee
and he was heading for
Pennsylvania and some
homemade pumpkin pie
From Pennsylvania folks are
travellin' down
to Dixie's sunny shore
From Atlantic to Pacific
Gee, the traffic is terrific
Oh, there's no place like home
for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine of a
friendly gaze
For the holidays, you
can't beat home sweet home
18th-century lullaby
Hush, my babe, lie still in slumber
Holy angels guard thy bed
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head
Soft and easy in thy cradle
Coarse and hard thy Savior lay
When his birthplace was a stable
And his softest bed was hay
Tommie Connor's 1952 tune, sung by 13-year-old Jimmy Boyd, sparked some controversy before listeners accepted its playfulness
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peep
She thought that I was tucked up
In my bedroom fast asleep
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
Kim Gannon and Walter Kent's 1943 WWII soldier plea from Bing Crosby
I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have some snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree
Christmas eve will find me
where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Edmund Sears, 1849
It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
"Peace on the earth good will to men
From heaven's all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing
For lo, the days are hastening on
by prophet bards foretold
When with the ever circling years
comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
which now the angels sing
Meredith Willson, 1951
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
Take a look at the five and ten
it's glistening once again
With candy canes and
silver lanes that glow
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store
But the prettiest sight to see
is the holly that will be
On your own front door
A pair of Hopalong boots and a
pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben
Dolls that'll talk and will
go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for
school to start again
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel
one in the park as well
It's the sturdy kind that
doesn't mind the snow
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that'll make 'em ring
is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart
Bobby Helms, 1957
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock
James Pierpont's 1857 song, meant for Thanksgiving, became the oldest widely sung Christmas tune
Dashing through the snow
on a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
laughing all the way
Bells on bobtail ring
making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a
sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells
jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a
one-horse open sleigh
Isaac Watts' 1719 text with Handel-inspired tune
Joy to the world! the Lord is come
let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing
and heav'n and nature sing
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns
let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
flocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
and wonders of His love
And wonders, and wonders of His love
Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne’s 1945 hit inspired by LA heatwave
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Man it doesn't show signs of stopping
And I brought me some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow! Let it snow!
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
And the fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you'd love me so
Let it snow! Let it snow and snow!
Katherine Davis' 1941 "Carol of the Drum"
"Come", they told me
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A newborn King to see
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
To lay before the King
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
So, to honor Him
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
When we come
Little baby
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
That's fit to give our King
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
Shall I play for you?
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
Mary nodded
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my best for Him
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum
Then He smiled at me
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Me and my drum
Mark Lowry's 1984 words with Buddy Greene's 1991 music
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You kiss the face of God
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great, I Am
Richard Carpenter and Frank Pooler's 1970 ballad
Greeting cards have all been sent
the Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
a special one for you
Merry Christmas Darling
we're apart that's true
But I can dream
and in my dreams
I'm Christmasing with you
Holidays are joyful
there's always something new
But every day's a holiday
when I'm near to you
The lights on the tree
I wish you could see
I wish it every day
The logs on the fire
fill me with desire
to see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year too
I've just one wish on this Christmas eve
I wish I were with you
I wish I were with you
Edward Pola and George Wyle's 1963 tune for Andy Williams
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you
"Be of good cheer"
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap, happiest season of all
There’ll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When friends come to call
It’s the hap, happiest season of all
There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting and
Caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories and
Tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you
"Be of good cheer"
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague, 1966
You're a mean one
Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel
You're as cuddly as a cactus
You're as charming as an eel
Mr. Grinch
You're a bad banana with a
greasy black peel
You’re a foul one, Mr Grinch
You’re a nasty, wasty skunk
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk
Mr. Grinch
The three words that describe you are
as follows, and I quote:
“Stink Stank Stunk!”
Rodgers and Hammerstein 1959 Sound of Music
Raindrops on roses and
whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and
warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages
tied up with strings
These are a few of my
favorite things
Cream-colored ponies and
crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and
schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the
moon on their wings
These are a few of my
favorite things
Girls in white dresses with
blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my
nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that
melt into springs
These are a few of my
favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
18th-century "Adeste Fideles"
O come all ye faithful
joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye
to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
born the King of angels
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all
glory giv'n
Word of the Father
now in flesh appearing
Medieval "O Antiphons," 19th-century English version
O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel!
Placide Cappeau and Adolphe Adam's 1847 French carol
O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world
in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the
soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night, when Christ was born
O night, O holy night
O night divine
Truly He taught us
to love one another
His law is love
and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for
the slave is our brother
And in His name
all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy
in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us
praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord
O praise His name forever
His power and glory
evermore proclaim
His power and glory
evermore proclaim
Penned by Phillips Brooks, 1868, after visiting Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
O, holy child of Bethlehem
descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell
O, come to us abide with us
our Lord, Emmanuel
Johnny Marks' 1958 hit featuring 13-year-old Brenda Lee
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie
And we'll do some caroling
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let's be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin' merrily
In the new old-fashioned way
Johnny Marks turned a 1939 store booklet into this 1949 song
You know Dasher and Dancer and
Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and
Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in history"
Joan Javits and Philip Springer, 1953, sung by Eartha Kitt
Santa baby
slip a Sable under the tree
for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down the
chimney tonight
Santa baby
a '54 convertible too,
light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the
chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of fellas I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you check off my Christmas list
Santa baby
I want a yacht and really
that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the
chimney tonight
Santa honey
one little thing I really need
the deed
to a platinum mine
Santa baby, so hurry down the
chimney tonight
Santa cutie
fill my stocking with
the duplex and checks
Sign your 'x' on the line
Santa cutie, and hurry down the
chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some gems from Tiffanys
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Santa baby
forgot to mention
one little thing - a ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby, so hurry down the
chimney tonight
Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, 1934
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out
Who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He sees you when you're sleepin'
He knows when you're awake
he knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber's 1818 Austria premiere used guitar due to a broken organ
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light
With the angels, let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Jay Livingston and Ray Evans wrote this for 1951's Lemon Drop Kid
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on ev'ry street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day
Leroy Anderson's 1948 instrumental got lyrics in 1950
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "yoo hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap
Let's go, Let's look at the show
We're riding in a wonderland of snow
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap
It's grand, Just holding your hand
We're gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land
Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
There's a birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending
of a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs
We love to sing
without a single stop
At the fireplace while we
watch the chestnuts pop.
pop! pop! pop!
There's a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee
and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print
by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives!
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "yoo hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you
It's lovely weather for a
sleigh ride together with you
Early 20th century arrangement by Vaughan Williams
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
News of great joy, news of great mirth
News of our merciful king’s birth
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
When from our sin he set us free
All for to gain our liberty
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
Glory to God and peace to men
Now and forevermore, Amen
A popular but unproven theory claims the gifts encode Catholic catechism (e.g., partridge as Jesus, two turtle doves as Old/New Testaments) to teach faith secretly during England's 1558-1829 ban on Catholicism
On the first day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree…
2 turtle doves
3 French hens
4 calling birds
5 golden rings
6 geese a-laying
7 swans a-swimming
8 maids a-milking
9 ladies dancing
10 lords a-leaping
11 pipers piping
12 drummers drumming
Jerry Herman's 1966 Mame musical opener
Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my
spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things, but
deck the halls again now
For we need a little Christmas
right this very minute
Candles in the window
carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas
right this very minute
Hasn't snowed a single flurry
Santa dear we're in a hurry
Climb down the chimney
Turn on the brightest string of
lights I've ever seen
Slice up the fruit cake
It's time we've hung some tinsel
on the evergreen bough
For I've grown a little leaner
grown a little colder
Grown a little sadder
grown a little older
And I need a little angel
sitting on my shoulder
Need a little Christmas now
For we need a little music
need a little laughter
Need a little singing
ringing through the rafter
And we need a little snappy
happy ever after
We need a little Christmas now
John Henry Hopkins Jr.'s 1857 Epiphany pageant
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain moor and mountain
Following yonder star
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and sacrifice
Alleluia, alleluia!
Earth to heav'n replies
This English carol is linked to the custom of carolers singing for seasonal treats such as figgy pudding
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish You a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year
Good tidings we bring
for you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
and a happy New Year
Bob Thiele and George Weiss' 1967 Louis Armstrong hit
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
for me and you
And I think to myself
what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
and clouds of white
The bright blessed day
the dark sacred night
And I think to myself
what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
“I love you”
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
what a wonderful world
William Dix's 1865 words with "Greensleeves" tune
What Child is this, who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The Babe the Son of Mary
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come peasant, king to own Him
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Irving Berlin's 1942 song with Bing Crosby became the best-selling single ever
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and
children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
Felix Bernard and Richard Smith, 1934
Sleigh bells ring, are you list’nin’
In the lane, snow is glist’nin
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight
Walkin’ in a winter wonderland
Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song as we go along
Walkin in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say, “Are you married?”, we’ll say, “No, man!
But you can do the job when you’re in town!”
Later on, we’ll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid the plans that we made
Walkin’ in a winter wonderland