Poetry Train Monday - 80 - The Night Before Christmas

For today's Poetry Monday I'm giving you a sneak peek into a song I'm performing on Christmas Eve with my mom and sister.


It's from the Christmas on the Town CD by Halifax's The Novelty Salesmen, a huge favorite of ours.


This is Mom and me singing away last Christmas Eve. After Auntie Noel's luscious lobster bisque dinner, which I wait for all year, we move into the music room for some Christmasey fun.

That's Auntie behind us with her flute, waiting on a cue. Uncle Charlie is at the keyboards behind Mom.


That's my sister singing a song last year.



This is my cousin's daughter with her granddad (my Uncle Charlie) playing her flute.


And this is my fellow blogger Heather's daughter Emily, with Julianne's daughter Laura giving us a tune. I can't wait for this year's program!



CLICK HERE to listen to the song. On the sample player, scroll down 9 selections until you get to The Night Before Christmas.

The bold lines are sung by the bass (in our case, Mom) and the lines in italics are sung by the tenor (in our case, me.)


The Night Before Christmas (arranged by Paul Simons)


(It was the night)

Night before Christmas

(And all)

All through the house

(Not a creature)

Creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In the hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there

(What a night, what a night)

Mom in her kerchief

(And I)

I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer


(What a night!)

Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen!

(What a night!)

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!

(What a night!)

What a night, what a wonderful night
It's one fantastical, fabulous night!

(What a night, what a pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
What a pa-pa-pa Pa-pa Pa-pa-pa-pa
What a night)


With a little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot

So up to the house-top the reindeer all flew
With a sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas, too

More rapid than eagles

(What a night, what a night)

His reindeer they came

(What a night, what a night)

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!


(What a night!)

Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen!

(What a night!)

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!

(What a night!)

What a night, what a wonderful night
It's one fantastical, fabulous night!

(What a night, what a pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
What a pa-pa-pa Pa-pa Pa-pa-pa-pa
What a night)


He spoke not a word

(What a night, what a fabulous night)

But went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings

(What a night, what a fabulous night)

Then turned with a jerk

And laying a finger

(What a night, what a night)

Aside of his nose
And giving a nod up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his sleigh

(What a night, what a night)

To his team gave a whistle
And away they all flew

(Like the down of a thistle)

But I heard him exclaim

(What a night, what a night)

As he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"


(What a night!)

Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen!

(What a night!)

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!

(What a night!)

What a night, what a wonderful night
It's one fantastical, fabulous night!

(What a night, what a pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
What a pa-pa-pa Pa-pa Pa-pa-pa-pa)

Merry Christmas...

- original poem by Clement C. Moore, this arrangement by Paul Simons

Check out the other stops on the Poetry Train.