'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirrin' - not even a mouse.
The stockin's were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The kiddies were nestled all snug in their beds,
With visions of toys hip-hoppin' in their heads;
And I in my nightie, and Dad in his cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

A winter's nap
Mmm - know what I mean?

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from the bed to see - what was the matter?
Away to the window we flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to our wonderin' eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

Reindeer, honey?
Uh-huh, Reindeer!

With a li'l old driver, so lively and quick,
We knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Much faster than 5-G his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall
Now dash away! dash away! dash away!
Dash away all!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

As dry leaves before the wild wind will fly,
When they meet, an obstacle, and mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinklin', we heard on the roof
The prancin' and pawin' of each little hoof.
As we drew in our heads, and were turnin' around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

With a bound!
Uh huh, with a bound!

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
And A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler openin' his pack.

His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

As the snow, honey.
Uh huh - As the snow!

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke - it circled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a li'l round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite o' myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave us to know we had nothin' to dread!

Nothin' to dread.
Huh uh - Nothin' to dread

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockin's; then turned with a jerk.
And layin' his finger aside of his nose,
And givin' a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But we heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all... a good night."

A good night now, ya hear
Mmm - A good night,
Uh huh - a good night
Ho! Ho! Ho! A good night!