Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brickman enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music taking courses in composition and performance, while taking business classes at Case Western Reserve University. His music career started when he was nineteen, when Jim Henson hired him to write tunes for Sesame Street. He was also hired to write commercial jingles while in college.
Brickman writes a wide variety of music. Besides his piano compositions and love songs, he has also created arrangements of other songs. Several of his albums feature arrangements of children's music; he has produced two Christmas-themed albums The Gift (1997) and Peace (2003); and his 2005 album Grace concentrates on arrangements of well-known Christian music.
Jim Brickman has also starred in the now-on-DVD PBS specials "My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman", "Love Songs & Lullabies" and "The Disney Songbook." In 2006, he sponsored his first Jim Brickman Valentine's Day Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines which has become an annual event.
Deck the Halls
Jim Brickman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'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 yuletide 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
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
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The first verse of Jim Brickman's rendition of "Deck the Halls" describes the Christmas tradition of decorating the halls with holly, a plant symbolizing Bells and the winter season. The phrase "Deck the Halls" means to adorn the hall with festive decorations or embellishments. The repetition of "fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la," adds a cheerful and festive quality to the song.
The second verse acknowledges the spirit of joy that is in the air during the Christmas season. Traditions such as decorations, carols, and eggnog all add to the jolly mood of the holidays. "Gay apparel" refers to the brightly colored clothing and costumes, people wear to celebrate the occasion. "Troll the ancient Yuletide carol" means to sing an old Christmas song in a cheerful and merry tone.
The third verse of the song encourages us to play a part in the celebration. "Strike the harp and join the chorus" alludes to musical instruments and suggests everyone should take part in singing along with the Christmas carols. The phrase, "While I tell of yuletide treasure" suggests there are good stories to be shared among loved ones at this time of year.
The fourth and final verse references the end of one year and the start of a new one. "Hail the New Year, lads and lasses," is a call to celebrate the coming year with excitement and joy. The final line of the song encourages us to join together to enjoy the Christmas celebrations, despite any harsh weather or negative conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's decorate the halls with bunches of holly branches and sing fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
'Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
It's the time of year when we should be happy and sing fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Don we now our gay apparel, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's put on our festive clothing and sing fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Troll the ancient yuletide carol, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's sing the old Christmas hymn and harmonize with fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
See the blazing yule before us, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Look at the bright fire burning in the hearth and sing 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
Let's play the harp and sing along with the group, with fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Follow me in merry measure, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing along with me in a happy rhythm with fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
While I tell of yuletide treasure, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
As I talk about the wonderful Christmas things, sing fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Fast away the old year passes, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The old year is ending quickly, so let's sing 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
Let's welcome in the New Year, boys and girls, with fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Sing we joyous, all together, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's all sing joyfully in harmony with fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Heedless of the wind and weather, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's continue singing happily no matter the wind or the weather with fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The chorus we sing repeatedly is fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES MERRILL BRICKMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind