Christmas in the Air
Carole King Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Christmas time in the middle of a city
Seeking its salvation
With every string of lights
That suddenly appears

Children stare with new found wonder
No one dares to break the trance
Every wish is carefully numbered
And god has granted all a second chance
This day

And all at once
The dream's begun
And as we mark the old year's passing
Strangers greet
On every street
And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
There's Christmas in the air

On this night
To this light
We see it all again
On this night
To this light
We see it all again

On this night
To this light
We see it all again
On this night
To this light
We see it all again
All again

On this winter night
We still wait for you

And now the time has come
When all the world is one
And as we mark the old year's passing
Strangers greet
On every street
And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
There's Christmas in the air

There comes a time when we're on our own
Some times in life such a thing must be
But such a thing should not be known
This night
This night
This night

And now the time has come
And now the time has come
And now the time has come
And now the time has come
And now the time has come

And all the world is one
And as we mark the old year's passing
Strangers greet
On every street
And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
There's Christmas in the air

The final letter that she read
Was from a younger man
It came with a journal
That was all written by hand

He had done something so wrong in life
That he no longer wished to live
But on this night he had a dream
And found that god forgives

If we truly regret how others we have hunt
He will understand




So he took the message from this night
And became a different man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Christmas in the Air" by Carole King paint a vivid picture of the magic of Christmas time in the city. The opening lines describe the city as seeking its redemption, as if the arrival of the holiday season represents a chance for the city to be reborn. The lights that decorate the streets are a symbol of this renewal, as they bring a sense of wonder and hope to everyone who sees them. Children are particularly captivated by the lights, and the song suggests that they are transformed by the experience, with their wishes and hopes becoming more focused and meaningful. The second verse describes the way that strangers come together during the holiday season, greeting each other and sharing a sense of goodwill that seems to permeate the air. The song emphasizes the power of forgiveness, suggesting that even those who have made mistakes or done wrong in their lives can find redemption and transform themselves into better people.


Overall, "Christmas in the Air" is a celebration of the transformative power of the holiday season. The song suggests that Christmas has the ability to bring people together, to inspire forgiveness and compassion, and to ignite a sense of hope and wonder that can last long after the season is over.


Line by Line Meaning

Christmas time in the middle of a city
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, the Christmas spirit prevails


Seeking its salvation
Everyone is looking for a way to be saved and find hope in the holiday season


With every string of lights, That suddenly appears
The colorful lights that adorn the streets add to the magical ambiance of the holiday season


Children stare with newfound wonder, No one dares to break the trance
The young ones are mesmerized by the enchantment of the season, and nobody wants to spoil it for them


Every wish is carefully numbered, And god has granted all a second chance, This day
On this day, all have been given a second chance to make things right, and every wish is important


And all at once, The dream's begun
Christmas is a time that brings everyone together, and the magic of the season has already begun in everyone's hearts


And as we mark the old year's passing, Strangers greet, On every street, And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
As the year comes to an end, goodwill and kindness are ubiquitous, and people from all walks of life come together to share the holiday spirit


There's Christmas in the air
The holiday spirit is palpable, and everyone can feel the magic of the season


On this night, To this light, We see it all again
The holiday season brings with it a renewal of hope and joy, and this is a time when we can see the world in a new light


We still wait for you
Christmas is a time for loved ones to come together and celebrate, and we eagerly await their arrival


When all the world is one
The holiday season is a time for unity and togetherness, when people from all over the world and different backgrounds come together


There comes a time when we're on our own, Some times in life such a thing must be, But such a thing should not be known, This night
Although there are times when we must be alone, the holiday season is not one of those times, and we should all come together to share the joy


The final letter that she read, Was from a younger man, It came with a journal, That was all written by hand
The singer receives a handwritten letter from a young man, containing his journal as a testament to his newfound outlook on life


He had done something so wrong in life, That he no longer wished to live, But on this night he had a dream, And found that god forgives
Despite past mistakes, forgiveness and redemption are possible, and the holiday season is a time for healing and growth


If we truly regret how others we have hurt, He will understand, So he took the message from this night, And became a different man
If we are truly sorry for how we have wronged others, then redemption is possible, and this is the true message of the holiday season




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JODI MARR, LOUISE GOFFIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Prayer Notes

Love this song!

nick wright

Love this song . Great video . Thanks for posting. Please listen to " Christmas in the air the writers". Thank you.

Sarina R

hey you have a great voice and btw im !st

More Versions