Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

"Jolly OldSaint Nicholas"is aChristmas songthat originated with a poem byEmily Huntington Miller(1833–1913), published as "Lilly's Secret" inThe Little Corporal Magazinein December 1865. The song's lyrics have also been attributed toBenjamin 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.Some people have also attributed the lyrics toJohn Piersol McCaskey—a song editor and publisher, among other things, at the time.His great-great grandson said McCaskey wrote the song in 1867, and that the "Johnny" mentioned in the song who wants a pair of skates was McCaskey's late son, John, who died as a child.However, there is no known evidence for this. McCaskey's own published 1881 book,Franklin Square Song Collection No. 1,a book in which proper attribution is given to songs' lyricists and composers, does not list himself as having had anything to do with the song.

A 19th Century printing of the standard words and music of this song, appearing inFranklin Square Song Collection, No. 1,which was published in 1881 byJohn Piersol McCaskey.

The music is generally believed to have been written byJames R. Murray.The first publication of the music was in 1874 inSchool Chimes, A New School Music BookbyS. Brainard's Sons,and attributes the music to him.The 1881 publication by McCaskey gives attribution to theS. Brainard's Sonspublication, which would mean Murray.

Notable recordings include those byRay Smithin 1949,Chet Atkinsin 1961,Eddy Arnoldin 1962,Alvin and the Chipmunksin 1963,Andy Williamsin 1995,Anne Murrayin 2001, andCarole Kingin 2017.

The Ray Smith 1949 version was revised and rearranged by, and had additional lyrics credited to, songwriterVaughn Horton.This version was also used for a single release by theAmes Brothersin 1951 and byWilf Carterfor his 1965Christmas in Canadaalbum.

Ray Conniff'sversion of the song, featured on his 1962 albumWe Wish You a Merry Christmas,helped propel the album toplatinum status,one of two platinum albums in Conniff's career.

Lyrics

This is the original published song in 1881:

Jolly old Saint 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.

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.

In the Ray Conniff version as part of a medley withThe Little Drummer Boy;the list of wishes is changed to "Johnny wants a pair of skates, Susy wants a sled, Nellie wants a picture book, yellow, blue and red." The final lyrics are also changed as a child named Billy is mentioned and that Santa should give him a drum cause "he likes that best." The song then transitions into Little Drummer Boy which is similar to theHarry Simeone Choralerecording. Certain radio stations that do all Christmas radio have split the medley into two different song tracks thanks to a brief pause in the middle of the medley.

Some versions change Coniff's last line to "Nellie wants a story book, one she hasn't read," to counter accusations that Coniff made her illiterate.The Chipmunks' version takes Coniff's version and inserts the names Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

See also

• Santa Claus
• Christmas gift-bringers around the world
• List of Christmas carols

External links

• http://www.christmas-carols.net/carols/jolly-saint-nick.html