25 Days of Christmas Songs - Day 23 - Deck the Halls

The melody to this popular Christmas carol belongs to Welsh folk song heritage, and may date back as far as the sixteenth century. The lyrics to Deck the Halls first appeared, without music, in a New York newspaper, in 1881. By the turn of the century, the melody and lyrics of Deck the Halls were wed, and the carol as we know it was already part of the American carol tradition.

Deck the Halls

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to by jolly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.