Deck The Halls
Rarity & Phoenix Chamber Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa-la-la-ahhh
Fa-la-la, fa-la-la
Fa-la-la-ahhh
Deck the halls with boughs of holly'Tis the season to be jollyChristmas day's around the corner
Fa-la-la-la-la,
la-la-la-la
Light the hearth, let's make things warmer
la-la-la-la
Bring the tree in front and center
Fa-la-la,
la-la-la, la-la-la
Gleaming bright in all its splendor
Fa-la-la-la-la,
la-la-la-la
Boughs of fur upon the mantleShining stars, each dancing candle
Draped in ribbons red and silverJoy upon us is delivered
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fa-la-la, la-la-la
Fa-la-la-la
Fa-la-la, la-la-la
Fa-la-la-la
Wrap our gifts in colored paper
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Tie with bows and store for laterOoh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Set the feast upon the table
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Friends together, willing, able
Fa-la-la-la-la,
la-la-la-la
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fa-la-la, fa-la-la
Fa-la-la-ahhh
Fa-la-la, fa-la-la
Fa-la-la-ahhh...
The song "Deck the Halls" is a traditional Yuletide and Christmas carol. The first verse talks about decorating the halls with boughs of holly and that it is the season to be jolly. The following verses are about bringing in the Christmas tree and decorating it with ornaments, hanging stockings on the mantle, lighting candles, and wrapping presents in colored paper with bows. The song then ends with setting the feast on the table and friends coming together to celebrate.
The repetition of the "fa-la-la" refrain throughout the song is a nod to the traditional Welsh New Year's Eve song "Nos Galan", which is also known as "Deck the Halls". This may be why the song is so popular during the holiday season, as it has already been ingrained in many people's minds.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was first published in 1881 in Welsh Melodies, a book by Welsh musician John Parry. The English lyrics we know today were written by Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant in 1862.
Another interesting fact is that the tune used for "Deck the Halls" is actually a Welsh melody called "Nos Galan", which means "New Year's Eve". The tune was used for a song that celebrated the coming of the New Year and was likely adapted for the Christmas season.
Additionally, the song has been featured in a number of TV shows and movies, including Home Alone 2, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Glee.
Lastly, the chords for "Deck the Halls" are G, C, and D.
G
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
C
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
G
'Tis the season to be jolly
C D G
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
G
Don we now our gay apparel
C
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
G
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
C D G
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Line by Line Meaning
Fa-la-la, fa-la-la
Let's sing joyfully and harmoniously
Fa-la-la-ahhh
A melodic vocalization expressing our festive spirit
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Let's adorn our living space with evergreen foliage
'Tis the season to be jolly
It is the time of year to be full of merriment
Christmas day's around the corner
The holiday is quickly approaching
Light the hearth, let's make things warmer
Let's kindle the fireplace to make the atmosphere more cozy
Bring the tree in front and center
Let's move the tree to a prominent location
Gleaming bright in all its splendor
The tree is shining beautifully
Boughs of fur upon the mantle
We have draped the fireplace mantle with soft, furry material
Shining stars, each dancing candle
We have decorated with star-shaped ornaments and candles that flicker and sway
Draped in ribbons red and silver
We have adorned the room with red and silver ribbons
Joy upon us is delivered
We are feeling a sense of happiness and delight
Wrap our gifts in colored paper
We are wrapping our presents in festive wrapping paper
Tie with bows and store for later
We are adding bows to the packages and setting them aside for future giving
Set the feast upon the table
We are placing the holiday meal on the dining table
Friends together, willing, able
We are surrounded by companions who are ready and willing to celebrate
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's keep singing joyfully and harmoniously
Fa-la-la-la-la
A melodious vocalization expressing our festive spirit
Fa-la-la, la-la-la
Let's continue singing with joy and harmony
Fa-la-la-ahhh
A melodic vocalization concluding our festive spirit
Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.