The Night Before Christmas
The Pete King Chorale And Orchestra Lyrics

'Twas the night before Christmas,
It was the evening preceding the Christmas day.

When all through the house,
Inside the entire house.

Not a creature was stirring,
No living being was in motion.

Not even a mouse!
Not even a small rodent!

The stockings all hung
The socks were placed on display.

By the chimney with care,
Near the fireplace carefully.

In hopes that St. Nicholas
Expecting and desiring that St. Nicholas.

Soon would be there!
Would arrive shortly!

The children were nestled
The young ones were comfortably situated.

All safe in their beds,
Securely resting in their sleeping places.

While visions of sugarplums
Imagining scenes with sweet plums.

Danced in their heads!
Moving joyfully within their minds!

And Mom in her kerchief
The mother wearing a small cloth covering her head.

And I in my cap,
And I wearing something on my head.

Had just settled down
Had recently relaxed and become calm.

For a long winter's nap!
In preparation for a lengthy sleep during the winter season!

When out on the lawn
When suddenly on the grass outside

There arose such a clatter,
There was a loud noise and commotion.

I sprang from my bed
I quickly jumped out of my sleeping place.

To see what was the matter!
To investigate what was causing the disturbance!

Away to the window
Hurriedly towards the window

I flew like a flash,
I moved swiftly like lightning.

Tore open the shutters
Violently opened the window covers.

And threw up the sash!
And raised the window frame!

The moon on the breast
The moon shining on the surface

Of the new fallen snow,
Of the freshly fallen snow.

Gave the lustre of midday
Provided a brightness similar to midday.

To objects below!
To the items beneath it!

When what to my wandering eyes
When suddenly before my curious eyes

Should appear,
There appeared

But a miniature sleigh
A small-scale sled

And eight tiny reindeer!
Along with eight diminutive reindeer!

With a little ol' driver
Guiding them was a petite old driver

So lively and quick,
So full of life and fast-moving

I knew in a moment
I immediately recognized

It must be St. Nick!
That it had to be St. Nicholas!

More rapid than eagles
Swifter than eagles

His courses they came,
His reindeer moved quickly

As he whistled and shouted
While he whistled and shouted

And called them by name:
Addressing them with their respective names:

"Now Dasher,
Now, Dasher,

Now Dancer,
Now, Dancer,

Now Prancer,
Now, Prancer,

Now Vixen,
Now, Vixen,

On Comet,
On, Comet,

On Cupid,
On, Cupid,

On Doner
On Doner

An' Blitzen!"
And, Blitzen!"

To the top of the porch,
Towards the highest part of the porch

To the top of the wall,
To the uppermost section of the wall.

Now dash-away, dash-away,
Now hurry away, hurry away,

Dash-away all!
Depart swiftly, all of you!

As dry leaves
Similar to dry leaves

Before the wild hurricane fly,
That fly before a fierce storm,

When they meet with an obstacle
When they come across any hindrance

Mount to the sky.
They move upward towards the sky.

So up to the housetop
So, up to the roof of the house

The courses they flew,
The reindeer swiftly flew,

With a sleigh full of toys
With a sled filled with toys

And St. Nicholas too!
With St. Nicholas as well!

And then in a twinkling
Suddenly, in a rapid motion

I heard on the roof
I detected upon the roof

The prancing and pawing
The energetic jumping and scratching

Of each little hoof!
Created by each small foot!

As I drew in my head
As I slowly removed my head

And was turning around,
And started to pivot,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas
Through the chimney came St. Nicholas

Came with a bound!
Arrived in a lively manner!

He was dressed all in fur
He wore garments made of fur

From his head to his foot,
From his head to his toes

And his clothes were all tarnished
His clothing was wholly soiled

With ashes and soot!
Covered in ashes and black residue!

A bundle of toys
A collection of playthings

He had flung on his back,
He had thrown over his shoulder

And he looked like a peddler
And he appeared similar to a traveling seller

Just opening his pack!
Who had just opened his bundle!

His eyes how they twinkled,
His eyes sparkled,

His dimples how merry,
His smile and indentations were cheerful,

His cheeks were like roses,
His cheeks resembled blooming flowers

His nose like a cherry!
His nose was similar to a red fruit!

His drawl little mouth
His small, slow and sweet mouth

Was drawn up like a bow,
Had its corners curved upwards like a bow

And the beard of his chin
And the facial hair on his chin

Was as white as the snow!
Was as pure and snow-white!

The stump of his pipe
The remnant of his smoking pipe

He held tight in his teeth,
He gripped firmly between his teeth

And the smoke it encircled his head
And the smoke formed a ring around his head

Like a wreath!
Similar to a decorative circular garland!

He had a broad face
He possessed a wide face

And a round little belly,
And a plump, circular abdomen

That shook when he laughed
That trembled when he chuckled

Like a bowl full of jelly!
Resembling a bowl full of gelatinous dessert!

He was chubby and plump,
He was plump and well-fed,

A right jolly old elf,
A truly joyful elderly magical creature,

I laughed when I saw him
I chuckled when I laid eyes on him

In spite of myself!
Even though I couldn't help it!

A wink of his eye
A closing of one eye for a moment

And a twist of his head,
And a rotation of his noggin,

Soon gave me to know
Quickly made me realize

I had nothing to dread!
That I had nothing to fear!

He spoke not a word
He communicated silently

But went straight to his work,
But immediately focused on his task,

And filled all the stockings,
And completely filled all the socks,

Then turned with a jerk!
Then abruptly turned around!

An' laying a finger
And placing a single finger

Alongside his nose,
Next to his nose,

An' giving a nod,
And giving a slight nod,

Up the chimney he rose!
He ascended up the chimney!

He sprang to his sleigh,
He leaped to his sled

To his team gave a whistle,
And whistled to his team

An' away they all flew
And they all quickly departed

Like the down of a thistle.
Similar to the soft feather of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim
However, I heard him joyfully declare

As he drove out of sight,
As he disappeared from view,

"Happy Christmas to All,
"Merry Christmas to everyone,

And to all a Goodnight!"
And may everyone have a pleasant evening!"