This Christmas

Album: Donny Hathaway (1970)
Charted: 63 34
Play Video
  • Hang all the mistletoe
    I'm gonna get to know you better
    This Christmas
    And as we trim the tree
    How much fun it's gonna be together
    This Christmas

    The fireside is blazing bright
    We're caroling through the night
    And this Christmas, will be
    A very special Christmas, for me

    Presents and cards are here
    My world is filled with cheer and you
    This Christmas
    And as I look around
    Your eyes outshine the town, they do
    This Christmas

    The fireside is blazing bright
    We're caroling through the night
    And this Christmas, will be
    A very special Christmas, for me, yeah

    Shake a hand, shake a hand now

    Mmh, the fireside is blazing bright
    We're caroling through the night
    And this Christmas, will be
    A very special Christmas, for me yeah

    Merry Christmas
    Shake a hand, shake a hand now
    Wish your brother Merry Christmas
    All over the land, now

    Yeah
    Merry Christmas
    Merry Merry Christmas
    Hey, hey, hey
    Merry Merry Merry
    Mmh, ohh
    Ooh Writer/s: Donny Edward Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor
    Publisher: Audiam, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Lisa from Cleveland, OhDonny Hathaway's voice is unparalleled. There is no other version that will suffice than the original. His voice is like liquid chocolate in the hot cocoa we all have on a cold winters night. The timing is perfect, the tone, the upbeat joy. I was blown away to learn that he was only 24 when he sang this song. Old soul for sure.
  • Phil from HomeWho were the musicians that recorded this hit?
  • Beachykeen from California"This Christmas" is a beautiful, romantic song: the lyrics, the vocals, the instruments, including the sleigh bells, strings, horns and guitars. I want to live this song out some Christmas as described. The song sounds as current today as when it was written. Many covers, but the original is truly the best. Congratulations to Nadine McKinnor for writing the song and to the late, great Donny Hathaway's family on "This Christmas"'s 50th anniversary. What a gift his musical genius has given us year after year.
  • Kevin from Salt Lake City, UtHarry Connick Jr performs (for me) the definitive version of the song on a compilation album "A Jazzy Wonderland". I joke that he sounds half drunk slurring his words (early Harry), but the backup band is Branford Marsalis' which gives this song the punch it deserves. Oddly, Harry recorded several subsequent Christmas albums, but never re-recorded it for those albums.
  • Carlos Jones from Jonesplus@gmail.comThe song has grown to be a perennial staple of Christmas classics, and Hathaway's original version, in my opinion, of course, is the best one.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.