The Night Before Christmas Songtext
von Glen Campbell

′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 would soon be there

The children were all nestled and snug in their beds
Visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
We′d just settled ourselves for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
So I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
I tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below
When, what to my wondering eyes did appear
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer


With a little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment that it must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came
And he whistled, and he shouted, and he called them by name

"Now, Dasher! And 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!"

So up to the house-top the reindeer 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 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 had flung on his back
And he looked like a peddler just opening his sack

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, and his nose like a cherry!
He had a droll little mouth that was all drawn up like a bow
And his beard on 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 little belly
That shooked 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 that I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And he filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk
And laying his finger along side of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his sleigh, and 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
A happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!