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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 soul What 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 soul What 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 black With your pack you'll creep; All the stockings you will find Hanging in a row; Mine will be the shortest one; You'll be sure to know. Johnny wants a pair of skates; Susy wants a dolly Nellie wants a story book, She thinks dolls are folly As for me, my little brain Isn't very bright; Choose for me, dear Santa Claus, What you think is right.References
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