Twas the Night Before Christmas - The Platters

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

The stockings were hung by, the chimney with care in hopes that

St. Nicholas would soon be there

The children were all nestled, all snug in their beds while

Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads

And momma in her kerchief and I in my cap

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter!

Away to the window, I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow

Gave the luster of midday to objects below

When what to my wandering eyes should appear

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer!

With a little ol' driver so lively and quick

I knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick!

More rapid than eagles, his courses they came

As he whistled and shouted and called them by name

“Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen

On Comet, on Doner, an' Blitzen

To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall

Now dash-away, dash-away all

And as dry leaves that before the wild hurricanes fly

When they meet with an obstacle mount sky

So up to the housetop the courses they flew

With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof

Ands I drew in my head and was turning around

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot

A bundle of toys, he sprung on his back

And he looked like a, a peddler just opening his pack

His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry

His drawl little mouth was drawn up like a bow

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow

The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth

And the smoke it circled his head like a wreath

He had a broad little face and a, a little round belly

That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly

He was chubby and plump, and a, a right jolly old elf

I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work

And filled all the stockings, and then turned with a jerk

An' laying a finger aside side his nose

An' giving a nod up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle

An' away they all flew like the down of a thistle

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight

“Merry Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all

And to all a goodnight”