The Night Before Christmas Lyrics - A Christmas Album - Bright Eyes

'Twas the night before Christmas, when 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 soon would be there 

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds 

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads 

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap 

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter 

I sprang from the 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 lustre of mid-day to objects below 

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear 

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick 

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick 

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came 

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

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! 

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! 

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! 

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly 

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky 

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew 

With the 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 

As I drew in my hand, 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 had flung on his back 

And he looked like 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 droll 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 encircled his head like a wreath 

He had a broad face and a little round belly 

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf 

And 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, then turned with a jerk 

And laying his finger aside of his nose 

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose 

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

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle 

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight 

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night"