branched out into music, but that is the opposite of how they began. After first being brought to life in Bagdasarian's 1950s novelty recordings under the name David Seville and the Chipmunks, the characters were an unprecedented success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon series and motion pictures.
The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create the higher pitched, squeaky voices. This process was not entirely new; Bagdasarian had also used it for a previous novelty song project, "The Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well executed it earned the "trio" two Grammy Awards for engineering. Although the characters were fictional, they did release a long line of "real" albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" becoming a number-one hit single in the United States. After his death in 1972, the voices of the Chipmunks were subsequently recorded by his son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., and his wife, Janice Karman, in all subsequent incarnations to date.
Up On The House-Top
Alvin and The Chipmunks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru' the chimney
With lots of toys
All for the little ones' Christmas joys
Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Up on the housetop
Click, click, click
Down thru' the chimney
With good Saint Nick
Up on the housetop
Reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru' the chimney
With lots of toys
All for the little ones' Christmas joys
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Up on the housetop
Click, click, click
Down thru' the chimney
With good Saint Nick
The song "Up On The Housetop" by Alvin and The Chipmunks is a classic Christmas jingle that tells the story of Santa Claus delivering presents to children on Christmas Eve. The song begins with a description of Santa's arrival on the roof, where his reindeer pause before he jumps out of the chimney with a bag full of toys to deliver to the children. The repetition of "ho, ho, ho!" adds to the festive mood and brings a feeling of joy and excitement, conveying the message that Santa has arrived and it's time to celebrate.
The second verse repeats the first, with the same descriptions of Santa Claus and his mission to deliver presents to children. The repetition of the verses and the chorus creates a catchy melody that is easy to sing along to and remember, making this song a favorite for both children and adults during the holiday season. The jovial tone of the lyrics encourages listeners to join in the fun and participate in the tradition of making wishes and giving gifts during Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
Up on the housetop
Santa is on top of the roof of the house, ready to deliver presents.
Reindeer pause
The reindeer stop moving and take a break before flying off again.
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Santa jumps out of the sleigh, excited to deliver presents.
Down thru' the chimney
Santa climbs down the chimney to deliver presents.
With lots of toys
Santa has brought many presents for the children.
All for the little ones' Christmas joys
The presents are meant to bring joy to the children on Christmas day.
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go!
Santa's famous laugh is an expression of joy and excitement, inviting us to join him on his journey.
Up on the housetop Click, click, click
The sound of reindeer hooves clicking on the roof of the house can be heard as they walk and dance on it.
Down thru' the chimney With good Saint Nick
Santa is a kind and generous figure, bringing joy and presents to all the good children.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT D SINGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind