The Christmas Song
Before his international acclaim as a pop vocalist, Nathaniel Adams Coles b… Read Full Bio ↴Before his international acclaim as a pop vocalist, Nathaniel Adams Coles built an indelible reputation as a jazz pianist in the groundbreaking combo, The King Cole Trio. Born into a musical family, young Nat Coles (later changed to Cole) recorded with his older brother, Edward, in 1936 for the Decca label. The four sides cut by Eddie Cole's Solid Swingers gave the general public its first glimpse of Nat's gentle yet lively piano riffs. After touring with a revival show of Eubie Blake's revue Shuffle Along, Cole settled in Los Angeles, playing various nightclubs as a soloist. In 1937, club owner Bob Lewis suggested that Cole assemble a small band to work at his Swanee Inn on North La Brea. The group's unorthodox instrumentation and size - they had no drummer and, at the time, big bands were the rage - featured Wesley Prince on bass and the innovative phrasings of electric guitarist Oscar Moore. The Trio's blend of jump blues and jazzy instrumentals with bouncy vocal stylings was a collective effort, while Cole occasionally took the lead on standard ballads. After an uneventful 1939 session for the Davis & Schwegler recording company in Hollywood, The Trio accompanied Lionel Hampton on two recording dates the following summer. Their association with Hampton helped, and that winter The Trio signed with Decca. Their 1940-41 sessions for the label yielded sixteen songs and captured the attention of fellow musicians, fans and a handful of critics. Later that fall, The Trio sounded right at home with drummer Lee Young on a four-song session for the Ammor label. In 1942, Cole recorded with Red Callender and saxophonist Lester Young for the Philo/Aladdin label, Oscar Moore with Cole at the piano. Image courtesy of the Dave Dexter, Jr. Collection.producing a handful of recordings that became benchmarks in their individual careers. Signing with Capitol Records in 1943, The Trio consisted of Cole, Moore, and Johnny Miller, who had settled in as the permanent bassist. Moore left the fold in 1947 and Irving Ashby replaced him. Capitol Records featured The Trio less and less after that, while Cole was singled out as a vocalist often backed by lush string orchestras. By the 1950's, Cole's reputation as a singer had reached a wide pop audience and, upon his death in 1965, his place in music history was forever cemented. His fellow jazz peers, however, never forgot his equally unique touch on the piano and the influence his early trio work had on later performers such as Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, and Tommy Flanagan.

The Christmas Song
The Nat King Cole Trio Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

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 opening lines of "The Christmas Song" paint an idyllic picture of the holiday season with chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose, yuletide carols sung by a choir, and people dressed up in warm Eskimo clothing. The song is about the joy of Christmas time, and the Santa Claus legend that helps to make it even more special. The song also talks about how Christmas traditions like the turkey and mistletoe help to brighten the season, and how children, with their eyes all aglow, find it hard to sleep at night knowing that Santa Claus is coming.


The final part of the song offers a simple phrase, "Merry Christmas to you," that encapsulates the spirit of the season. The phrase is repeated twice, with the last line saying "although it's been said many times, many ways" indicating that it is a traditional greeting that never gets old. The song is a classic holiday tune that connects with people of all ages and backgrounds, and it perfectly captures the essence of the holiday season.


Line by Line Meaning

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
The aroma of chestnuts being roasted on a fire is filling the air


Jack Frost nipping at your nose
The cold air outside is causing your nose to tingle and feel numb


Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
The sounds of traditional Christmas songs are beautifully harmonized by a choir's voices


And folks dressed up like Eskimos
People are wrapped up warmly in thick winter clothing to keep the cold at bay


Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
A turkey dinner and mistletoe decorations are two common things everyone looks forward to during the season


Help to make the season bright
These things bring joy and brighten up the holiday spirit


Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Excited young children with bright eyes are eagerly awaiting the holiday and all its delights


Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They'll be too full of excitement and anticipation to easily drift to sleep


They know that Santa's on his way
Children believe Santa Claus will soon visit to deliver presents


He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
He's prepared many gifts for good children


And every mother's child is gonna spy
Every child, regardless of social status, will try to catch a glimpse of Santa or his sleigh


To see if reindeer really know how to fly
Their curiosity exists around the mystery of how reindeer have the ability to fly


And so I'm offering this simple phrase
I'm sharing a kind and humble message in honor of the holiday season


To kids from one to ninety-two
Everyone, regardless of age, can appreciate this sentiment


Although it's been said many times, many ways
The message of 'Merry Christmas' has been expressed in numerous forms over the years


Merry Christmas to you
A warm and sincere wish for a happy holiday to everyone




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@axlg.685

I will always choose this version. Whenever I listen to this, there's just pure nostalgia of my wonderful Christmas childhood.

@TrippedGian1

💖

@electrictroy2010

TRIVIA: The non-string version was never officially released. Not until 1990 was it accidentally leaked. Nat King Cole preferred the full orchestra version & put that on his record 1946

.

@rockingronniewalker1870

What a fabulous original, I prefer this version

@electrictroy2010

TRIVIA: The non-string version was never officially released. Not until 1990 was it accidentally leaked. Nat King Cole preferred the full orchestra version & put that on his record 1946

.

@josephclarke5035

I love this version, It is so raw, and fresh

@electrictroy2010

TRIVIA: The non-string version was never officially released. Not until 1990 was it accidentally leaked. Nat King Cole preferred the full orchestra version & put that on his record 1946

.

@quietthunder

Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

@michaelalee4874

I’m a Gen X and my girl is Gen Z, can you believe this song, Mel Torme and Nat King cole is one of the bridges that bring us together in spite of the age difference

@michaelalee4874

Nice. Met Mel Torme in college and then spent many days at his grave in Westwood... how time flies... what a relief we have the music to reminisce the past and enjoy some nostalgia from time to time... thanks for upload

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