There are many Christmas songs out there that are quite old and boring for kids. But as music educators we need to make Christmas songs fun! Singing in winter time is about being together and enjoying the moment, not about a great performance (well, at least when there is no Christmas concert planned). Here is something for all the music teachers and families that would like to sing some easy songs together on Christmas (fun lyrics guaranteed!).
Which Christmas songs can I sing with kids?
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Feliz Navidad
Twelve Days of Christmas
Deck the Halls
Jingle Bells
Oh, Christmas Tree
Little Drummer Boy
1. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
This Christmas classic is great for children because there are always text line that need to be repeated. Also the lyrics and topics are fun!
Text
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
And bring it right here!
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So, bring it right here!
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
We all like our figgy pudding
We all like our figgy pudding
We all like our figgy pudding
With all its good cheer!
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
We Wish You a Merry Christmas Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Pretty much every child somehow know Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. Singing his story is a great way for connecting with what kids already know about Rudolph.
Text
You know Dasher and Dancer
and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and
Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall,
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names,
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
“Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee:
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You’ll go down in history.”
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
This song is a good example that having a story element in the lyrics is really fun!
Text
Oh, you better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Oh, he's making a list and he's checking it twice.
He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Oh, he sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.
Oh, you better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.
Oh, you better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Oh, You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Santa Claus is Coming to Town Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
4. Feliz Navidad
Lyrics are very short and easy here. You can repeat them as many times as you want and might even learn some Spanish in the process.
Text
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
From the bottom of my heart.
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
From the bottom of my heart.
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
From the bottom of my heart.
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
From the bottom of my heart.
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
From the bottom of my heart.
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
I wanna wish you a merry Christmas,
From the bottom of my heart.
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Navidad,
Próspero año y felicidad.
Feliz Navidad Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
5. Twelve Days of Christmas
Twelve Days of Christmas really requires a good memory - and that makes it fun, especially for kids!
Text
On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the forth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
Twelve Days of Christmas Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
6. Deck the Halls
The most fun part in this song is the "Falalalala" that you can encourage to do in a very theatrical way.
Text
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
’Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la, la, la
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
See the blazing Yule before us
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Follow me in merry measure
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Fast away the old year passes
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Sing we joyous all together
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.
Deck the Halls Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
7. Jingle Bells
A lot of children will already know this song, which makes it easy to sing with them. The verses can be a little tough because they actually have a lot of text. That can also make it fun though, because the lyrics tell quite a funny story.
Text
Dashing through the snow
in a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the fields we go,
laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring,
making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing
a sleighing song tonight, oh!
Chorus
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride
in a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride
in a one-horse open sleigh!
Now the ground is white,
go it while you’re young.
Take the girls tonight,
sing this sleighing song.
Get a bob-tailed bay,
two-forty for his speed,
and hitch him to an open sleigh
and you will take the lead, oh!
Repeat chorus
Oh what fun it is to ride
in a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle Bells Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
8. Oh, Christmas Tree
A slower song that also many children know.
Text
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, you stand in splendid beauty!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, you stand in splendid beauty!
Your branches green in summer’s glow
And evergreen in winter’s snow.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, you stand in splendid beauty!
Repeat
Oh, Christmas Tree Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
9. Little Drummer Boy
Singing "Little Drummer Boy" can always be fun with kids. Encourage them to "play the drums" by imitating the lyrics "pa rum pum pum pum"!
Text
Come, they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.
So to honour Him, pa rum pum pum pum
When we come.
Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give a King, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Little Drummer Boy Chords
(Lyrics might be a little different)
Sources and Links
Photo 1: Elina Fairytale from Pexels
How can I find more music activities?
Find more ideas for music games, note sheets and useful printables on our website: https://www.paupa.org
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