Christmas
Fred Waring Lyrics


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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!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Song of Christmas" by Fred Waring bring to life the imagery of a classic Christmas scene. The first stanza describes the picturesque setting of a fire crackling and roasting chestnuts, while outside, a nip in the air from Jack Frost can be felt. The second line conjures the image of a choir singing Yuletide carols. The line that follows, "And folks dressed up like Eskimos," adds to the festive atmosphere with people donning their warm winter clothing.


The second stanza of the song speaks to the joy and magic of Christmas, particularly for children. The mention of "a turkey and some mistletoe" and "tiny tots with their eyes all aglow" highlights the excitement that comes with the holiday season. The verse goes on to describe the anticipation of Santa Claus flying with his reindeer and delivering presents to homes across the world.


The final verse delivers the most significant message of the song - that the spirit of Christmas touches everyone, regardless of their age. The singer offers a simple phrase of "Merry Christmas to you" to encompass all those celebrating the holiday season, from children to the elderly. This line reminds listeners of the universal nature of Christmas - that it is a time to celebrate and spread joy.


Line by Line Meaning

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
The scene is set with chestnuts on fire indicating it's a cozy, warm environment


Jack Frost nipping at your nose
The cold weather is worsening and reaching the extremities (nose) indicating a need for warmth


Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
The community is celebrating Christmas, coming together to spread joy and create an environment of happiness


And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
To fight off the cold weather, people are embracing the opportunity to wear traditional Eskimo clothing


Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
A festive dinner accompanied by decorations is a well-known Christmas tradition


Help to make the season bright
These objects symbolize hope and happiness during the holiday season making it enjoyable and memorable


Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Children are thrilled and excited as they anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus


Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
Due to excitement and anticipation, young children might struggle to sleep


They know that Santa's on his way
Children believe in Santa and often experience a sense of hope and excitement around his arrival


He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa carries with him a lot of gifts to spread joy and happiness, especially to children


And every mother's child is gonna spy
Every child, regardless of whether they celebrate Christmas, is excited to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer in action


To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
Children are curious to understand if the magical experience of reindeers flying is indeed possible


And so I'm offering this simple phrase
The singer is offering this simple phrase as a gesture of goodwill and wishes a happy holiday season to all children


To kids from one to ninety-two
This phrase is applicable to all people, be it young or old


Although it's been said many times, many ways
This phrase has been shared frequently during Christmas, but it still holds meaning and value


Merry Christmas to you!
The singer is wishing the listener a delightful and joyful experience this Christmas




Lyrics © Ceylon Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Kevin Meyer

One of the best Christmas albums of all time.

Marilyn King

Kevin Meyer My brother ordered this album for me one Christmas. We had it as children. Memories!

Yaelra R.

This is incredible!!! I grew up on this album. We used to dance in our living room to this album. Thank you for this! A great Christmas present to the world!

acer3573

My Dad had this album from when he was in college in '55. I played it to death in the early 80's.

MISTA VISTA

Side 1 is without a doubt the greatest xmas music ever recorded by anyone (imho).
Hear that jingle.
Makes me tingle.

Brian Savage

I too was raised with this album. We played the first side till it wore out. Still can't recall the song Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer with out thinking of this version.

Dark Star

I grew up with this album. Thanks for sharing!

mary

SAME!!!

hisroyalness2

I ALSO GREW UP WITH THIS ALBUM.... what an era it was.

Judy Cyg

We also grew up with this album. As kids, we loved all the silly versions, especially Rudolph, but the others are beautiful. Thank you, thank you for sharing!

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