Christmas Song

Nat King Cole

About Christmas Song

"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born. "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells's) piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics." The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song in June 1946. At Cole's behest – and over the objections of his label, Capitol Records – a second recording was made in August utilizing a small string section, this version becoming a massive hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Cole again recorded the song in 1953, using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and once more in 1961, in a stereophonic version with another full orchestra arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Cole's 1961 version is generally regarded as definitive, and in 2004 was the most-loved seasonal song with women aged 30–49, while the original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974. 


Year:
2018
3:12
62 
#2

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Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

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Nat King Cole

Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was a musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. He owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres. He was one of the first black Americans to host a television variety show, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death. more »

22 fans

Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells

Lyrics © Ceylon Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Background
"The Christmas Song" is widely regarded as a classic Christmas song. The original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.
Artist
The rendition of "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole is arguably the most popular, even though it was originally written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. Nat King Cole recorded it in 1946 and it quickly became a hit.
Song Meaning
The song's lyrics paint a vivid and nostalgic picture of Christmas traditions, describing chestnuts roasting on an open fire and folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Most Popular Version
Nat King Cole has actually recorded the song four times. The most popular version was recorded in 1961 and is the one that we hear most often today. This version has a full orchestral scoring, arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael.
Cultural Impact
"The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole is recognized as one of the 25 most-performed songs of the 20th century, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
Chart Performance
The song has topped the Billboard chart multiple times over the years during the holiday season. For instance, it reached No.1 on the Billboard's Holiday 100 Chart in 2020.
Effect on Nat King Cole's Career
With the song's success, Nat King Cole became one of the first African-American artists to gain acceptance among white audiences. It also helped establish him as a successful solo artist after his initial fame with the Nat King Cole Trio.
Notable Covers
Many artists have covered "The Christmas Song" over the years. Some of the notable versions include those by Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, and Justin Bieber.
Record Breaking
As of 2021, "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole continues to break records. In 2019, it became his first solo song to reach a billion streams on Spotify. It was also awarded a double Platinum certification by the RIAA in the United States.
Unique Inspiration
Despite being synonymous with holiday cheer, ironically, the song was written during a sweltering summer. Mel Tormé and Bob Wells wrote it in an attempt to "stay cool by thinking cool" during a hot spell in Los Angeles in 1945.

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