We
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra Lyrics


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Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
We may be rushing things but deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas right this very minute
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas right this very minute
It hasn't snowed a single flurry, oh, Santa dear we're in a hurry

Climb down the chimney
Hang up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen
Slice up the fruit cake
It's time we hung some tinsel on the evergreen bough

For we need a little music, need a little laughter
Need a little singing ringing through the rafter
And we need a little something, happy ever after
We need a little Christmas now

Oh, we need a little Christmas right this very minute
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas right this very minute
We need a little Christmas now

Do do do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do do




Do do do do do do do do
Do do do do

Overall Meaning

These lyrics, from the song "We Need a Little Christmas" by Sy Oliver and His Orchestra, are about the urgency and excitement of preparing for the Christmas season. The singer urges whoever is listening to "haul out the holly" and "put up the tree" before their "spirit falls again." They acknowledge that they may be rushing things, but they feel that the decorations and festivities are necessary, and they implore everyone to "deck the halls again now."


Throughout the song, the singer notes various traditional aspects of Christmas, such as candles in the window and carols at the spinet, as well as more specific tasks, like climbing down the chimney and slicing up the fruit cake. They emphasize the need for music, laughter, and singing, and express their desire for a happy ending with "a little something, happy ever after."


Line by Line Meaning

Haul out the holly
Bring the festive decorations, specifically the holly plant.


Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Set up the Christmas tree before my mood worsens.


Fill up the stocking
Prepare the stockings to be hung for Christmas gifts.


We may be rushing things but deck the halls again now
We might be moving too quickly, but let's decorate the house with ornaments and decorations now.


For we need a little Christmas right this very minute
We require a small dose of the holiday spirit immediately.


Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Place lit candles in the window and play Christmas music on a small piano, a spinet.


It hasn't snowed a single flurry, oh, Santa dear we're in a hurry
It hasn't snowed yet, and the holiday season is quickly approaching, so we're anxious and in a rush.


Climb down the chimney
An invitation for Santa Claus to leave presents by implying that he has to come down the chimney to do so.


Hang up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen
Hang up the most vividly lit string of lights that I have ever witnessed.


Slice up the fruit cake
Cut the fruitcake for us to snack on during the holidays.


It's time we hung some tinsel on the evergreen bough
It's the period to put up some tinsel on the bough of the evergreen tree.


For we need a little music, need a little laughter
We require some festive music, along with some merriment or joyfulness.


Need a little singing ringing through the rafter
We also need to hear some beautiful holiday-themed singing echoing through the house.


And we need a little something, happy ever after
Additionally, we need some element of contentment or bliss in our lives, well beyond the holidays.


We need a little Christmas now
We require a small slice of Yuletide spirit presently.


Oh, we need a little Christmas right this very minute
Oh, we require a small dose of the holiday spirit immediately.


Do do do do do do do do do do do
A repetition of sounds without any meaningful words, a part of the instrumental bridge in the song.


Do do do do do do do do
Repeating nonsensical sounds, adding to the musical instrumental rhythm.


Do do do do do do do do do do
Repeating sounds again, making up the instrumental part of the song.


Do do do do do do do do
Repeating sounds for the fourth time, purely instrumental.


Do do do do
Concluding the instrumental section with a final repetition of sounds.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Herman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@AustinCasey

Great! Thanks for sharing! -Austin

@konidolfine

Nice bounce by Oliver's arr. !! Thank you.

@Zsaxophone

Splendid! Thanks for posting this rarely heard song!

@jubalcalif9100

I have a notion to second that emotion !!

@jubalcalif9100

Wow ! Double Wow !! Triple Wow !!! What a fun version of the classic 1920's tune ! I fell in love with this song when I heard it for the first time last year when watching the 1966 movie "The Group" on TCM (it's sung under the opening credits by a female acapella group). THANKS so much for sharing this gem with us !! :-)

@rocketaroo

first class!

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