He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
Deck the Halls
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 Yule-tide 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 Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
"Deck the Halls" is a popular Christmas song that encourages the decoration of the halls with festive greenery like holly, and it promotes merriment and joy during the holiday season. The repeated "fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la" at the end of each stanza is a typical feature found in carols across Europe. Likewise, the phrase "Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol" is a direct call to the audience to join in with the spirit of the occasion and to sing along. The second stanza highlights the beautiful imagery of a blazing Yule log and encourages the playing of music, suggesting that the festive spirit is enhanced by the arts.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Let's decorate the interior of our homes with branches of holly, as it represents a symbol of happiness and goodwill.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's sing and make merry by repeating these nonsensical syllables that resemble laughter, as it adds to our joyous spirits.
'Tis the season to be jolly
This time of year is meant to be a time of happiness, so let's embrace it and rejoice.
Don we now our gay apparel
Let's put on our festive clothing, as it adds to the festive spirit and makes us feel merry.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Let's sing a traditional and old-fashioned carol that originates from the Yuletide season to celebrate the time of year.
See the blazing Yule before us
Let's observe the roaring Yuletide fire in front of us, as it is a symbol of warmth and comfort during the cold winter months.
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Let's play merry tunes on our harps and add our voices to the singing, as it brings even more joy to the festivities.
Follow me in merry measure
Let's dance and move in a jolly way to the music, as it represents the happy nature of the holiday season.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
As we dance, I will recount stories of the treasures and joys that come with the Yuletide season, adding to our merriment.
Fast away the old year passes
The previous year has gone by so quickly, and we shouldn't dwell on the past but focus on the new year ahead.
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Let's cheer and welcome the upcoming new year, as it brings endless possibilities and new beginnings.
Sing we joyous, all together
Let's all celebrate with our songs and singing together, spreading joy and happiness amongst one another.
Heedless of the wind and weather
No matter how harsh the wind or the weather, let's push on and celebrate the holiday season with joy and happiness.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Thomas Oliphant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind