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"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" is a Christmas song that originated with a poem by Emily Huntington Miller (1833-1913), published as "Lilly's Secret" in The Little Corporal Magazine in December 1865. The song's lyrics have also been attributed to Benjamin Hanby, who wrote a similar song in the 1860s, Up on the Housetop. However, the lyrics now in common use closely resemble Miller's 1865 poem.
The song is traditionally performed to a melody which James Lord Pierpont wrote in 1857 for the original version of "Jingle Bells".
Lyrics
The traditional lyrics are:
Jolly old St. Nicholas,Lean your ear this way.Don't you tell a single soulWhat I'm going to say.Christmas Eve is coming soon.Now, you dear old man,Whisper what you'll bring to me.Tell me if you can.This is the original published song in 1881:
Lean your ear this way;Don't you tell a single soulWhat I'm going to say,Christmas Eve is coming soon;Now now dear old man,Whisper what you'll bring to me;Tell me if you can.When the clock is striking twelve,When I'm fast asleep,Down the chimney broad and blackWith your pack you'll creep;All the stockings you will findHanging in a row;Mine will be the shortest one;You'll be sure to know.Johnny wants a pair of skates;Susy wants a dollyNellie wants a story book,She thinks dolls are follyAs for me, my little brainIsn't very bright;Choose for me, dear Santa Claus,What you think is right.References
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