The Night Before Christmas

File:David Seville-The Night Before Christmas

"The Night Before Christmas" is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore in 1837, that is covered by Dave Seville and The Chipmunks in the albums Christmas with The Chipmunks, Vol. 2, Merry Christmas from The Chipmunks and Christmas with The Chipmunks (2006). Although the song was attributed to Clarke, some believe the poem was written by Henry Livingston Jr.

Lyrics

Alvin:
Hey Dave, do "The Night Before Christmas" will ya?

Dave:
Alright boys here I go.

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

The Chipmunks:
One, two, three, four.
Go Dave, go, we wanna hear some more.

Dave:
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
Had settled our heads for a long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like the flash
Open the shutters and threw up the sash

The moon outside was shining on the snow
When it looked real bright on the ground below
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
A little tiny sleigh and eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew in a minute it must be St. Nick
Faster than eagles the reindeer came
And he whistled, and he shouted, and he called them by name!

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

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound

Dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack

His eyes-how they twinkled, his dimples how merry
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry
His cute little mouth looked just like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow
The stomp of a pope he hold tight in his teeth
And the smoke it encircled his head like a breath

He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly

He chubby and plump, right jolly old elf
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
And he filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving 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 I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all, and good-night!"