The Night Before Christmas
The Chipmunks Lyrics

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
It was the night before Christmas, and everything in the house was quiet.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Nobody was moving, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
The stockings were carefully hung by the chimney.

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
Everyone was hoping that St. Nicholas would come soon.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
The children were sleeping soundly in their beds.

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
The children were dreaming of sweet treats.

And mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Mama and I were preparing to go to bed.

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
We were planning to sleep for a long time.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
We heard a loud noise from outside.

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
I quickly got out of bed to see what was happening.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
I ran quickly to the window.

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
I opened the shutters and raised the window quickly.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
The moonlight shone on the fresh snow outside.

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
The moonlight made everything outside look bright as day.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
Suddenly, I saw something I could hardly believe.

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
I saw a small sleigh and eight tiny reindeer outside.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
The driver of the sleigh was an old, lively man.

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
I realized right away that this was Santa Claus.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
The reindeer were running faster than eagles.

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
Santa shouted the names of the reindeer to urge them on.

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
He called the reindeer by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen.

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
He called the other reindeer: Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
He urged the reindeer to run up to the top of the porch and the wall.

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
He urged the reindeer to run away quickly.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
The reindeer ran as fast and wild as leaves in a hurricane.

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
When they came upon an obstacle, they jumped over it.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
The reindeer ran up to the rooftop.

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
Santa and his sleigh were filled with toys.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
Suddenly, I heard a noise on the rooftop.

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
I heard the sound of the reindeer's hooves on the roof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
I turned around to look at the noise more closely.

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
Suddenly, Santa came down the chimney with a jump.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
Santa was wearing a fur suit from head to toe.

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
His clothes were dirty from sliding down chimneys all night.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
Santa had a large bundle of toys on his back.

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
He looked like a salesman who was just opening his backpack of goods.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
Santa's eyes shimmered and his dimples looked jolly.

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Santa's cheeks were red like roses and his nose was red like a cherry.

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
His mouth looked like a bow when he smiled.

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
His beard was pure white like the snow outside.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
He held a pipe between his teeth.

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
Smoke from the pipe swirled around his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
Santa had a big, round face and a small, round belly.

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
His belly shook when he laughed, like a bowl of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
Santa was a happy, chubby, and plump old man.

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
I couldn't help but laugh when I saw him.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
He made a gesture with his eye and head.

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
I realized that there was nothing to be afraid of.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Santa didn't say anything, but immediately started working.

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
He filled all the stockings and then left quickly.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He touched his nose with his finger.

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He nodded goodbye and then went back up the chimney.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
Santa jumped into his sleigh and whistled at his team of reindeer.

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
The reindeer flew away quickly, like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
Before he disappeared from view, I heard Santa say:

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
"Merry Christmas to all, and have a good night!"