The Christmas Song

Album: Christmas Legends (1946)
Charted: 21 3
Play Video
  • Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
    Jack Frost nipping at your nose
    Yule-tide 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 gonna spy
    To see if reindeer really know how to fly

    And so I'm offering this simple phrase
    To kids from one to ninety-two
    Although it's been said many times, many ways
    Merry Christmas to you

    And so I'm offering this simple phrase
    To kids from one to ninety-two
    Although it's been said many times, many ways
    Merry Christmas to you Writer/s: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • M From G from GermayThe well-known British synth-pop duo Erasure released a version of the song in 2013 on their Christmas album, Snowglobe.
  • Seventh Mist from EarthBob Rivers parodied both this classic and the Chipmunk Song with "Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire."
  • Pedre from Bangor, MeThe Christmas song was released by Nat King Cole in 1946. It's the song that made him a popular vocalist.
  • Rich from Elkins, Wv110 words (give or take) put together in less than an hour. Everyone knows this one ...the songwriters made a good living because of this one song..a Christmas classic..I'd like to write something enduring like this someday...
  • Fred from Summit, NeNat "King" Cole recorded and released four separate and distinctive versions of the song, beginning in 1949, as by the King Cole Trio (Capitol F-90036). The second version came along in 1954 (Capitol F2955).
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.