Christmas In New York – English Lyrics

• By: Backstreet Boys
• Album: A Very Backstreet Christmas

Lyrics & Translation

Journey into the heart of a New York Christmas with the Backstreet Boys' enchanting "Christmas In New York." This song offers a delightful blend of classic holiday cheer and the band's signature pop harmonies, making it perfect for immersing yourself in English holiday vocabulary and phrases. Through vivid lyrics depicting iconic city sights, you'll discover expressions related to festive traditions and urban holiday experiences, all while enjoying a heartwarming and catchy tune that captures the magic of the season.

[English]

Lights are in the windows

Snow is on the ground

Seems like everywhere you

See an angel hangin' round

There's something in the air

You feel it everywhere

A New Year's knockin' at the door

Every other corner

Santas ring their bells

People take the time to

Stop and wish each other well

Now, everywhere you look (everywhere you look)

It's like a picture book (like a picture book)

Who could even wish for something more

Then to spend a Christmas in New York?

Church bells in the night (church night)

Times Square lit up bright (Times Square lit up bright)

Skaters in the Plaza after dark (whatever's meant to be)

And if it's meant to be

Well, then maybe you and me

Could take a carriage ride through Central Park, hey

Down at Rockefeller, the lighting of the tree (lighting of the tree)

Seems like every year it means a little more to me

And seeing the surprise in little childrens' eyes

Thrilled by what the season has in store

Yes, this is Christmas in New York

Church night

Times Square lit up bright

Whatever's meant to be

Oh, oh, if it's meant to be

Well, then maybe you and me

Could take a carriage ride through Central Park, oh

All the elves are busy

On Macy's eighth floor

It's good to know there is still a miracle on 34th (miracle star, eighth floor, 34th)

But what I love the most

Is holding you this close

This is what they made the season for

Those spending Christmas in

Oh, another Christmas in

Oh yes, another Christmas in

New York (pa-di-rup-pup-pa-dim, pup-pup-pa-dim)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ A1	noun - The annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25th. noun - The period around December 25th.
New York /ˌnuː ˈjɔːrk/ A1	noun - A large city in the US, located in New York State.
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; often used in plural for decorative illumination. noun - A device that produces illumination.
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - Atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals and falling in flakes. verb - (It) snows, for snow to fall.
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/ A2	noun - A spiritual being believed to act as a messenger of God, often depicted with wings. noun - A very kind, beautiful, or innocent person.
bell /bɛl/ A2	noun - A hollow, cup-shaped metallic object, typically with a clapper inside, that rings when struck.
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - Emitting or reflecting much light; shining. adjective - Intelligent and quick-witted.
skaters /ˈskeɪtərz/ B1	noun - People who skate, especially on ice or roller skates.
carriage /ˈkærɪdʒ/ B1	noun - A wheeled vehicle, typically drawn by horses and used for carrying people. noun - A part of a machine that moves and carries something.
park /pɑːrk/ A1	noun - A large public green area in a town or city, used for recreation. verb - To bring a vehicle to a stop and leave it temporarily.
tree /triː/ A1	noun - A woody perennial plant, typically with a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground.
surprise /sərˈpraɪz/ A2	noun - An unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing. verb - To cause (someone) to feel mild astonishment or shock.
thrilled /θrɪld/ B2	adjective - Feeling intense pleasure or excitement.
season /ˈsiːzn/ A2	noun - Each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter). noun - A period of the year characterized by a particular climate, activity, or crop, e.g., Christmas season.
miracle /ˈmɪrəkl/ B1	noun - An extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency. noun - A highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or achievement.
elves /ɛlvz/ B1	noun - (In folklore) a supernatural creature, typically a small, mischievous figure, often associated with Christmas as helpers of Santa Claus.
busy /ˈbɪzi/ A1	adjective - Having a great deal to do. adjective - (Of a place) full of activity.
holding /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/ A1	verb - Grasping, carrying, or supporting (something). (Present participle of 'hold')
wish /wɪʃ/ A1	verb - To want something to happen or to be true, even though it is unlikely or impossible. noun - A desire or hope.
spend /spɛnd/ A1	verb - To pass time in a specified way or place. verb - To use money to buy or pay for something.

Key Grammar Structures

• Lights are in the windows

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ The subject 'Lights' is acted upon by the prepositional phrase 'in the windows', indicating the lights are located there.

• Snow is on the ground

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The prepositional phrase 'on the ground' specifies where the snow is, indicating the location.

• Seems like everywhere you see an angel hangin' round

  ➔ Like / Similar To (Simile)

  ➔ Uses 'like' to compare the idea of seeing angels everywhere, creating a simile.

• Could take a carriage ride through Central Park, hey

  ➔ Modal Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ Uses the modal 'could' with the base form 'take' to express possibility or suggestion.

• And if it's meant to be

  ➔ Conditional Phrase (First Conditional)

  ➔ Expresses a possible future situation that depends on a condition, using 'if' to introduce the clause.

• See an angel hangin' round

  ➔ Gerund / Present Participle

  ➔ Uses the present participle 'hangin'' to describe the ongoing action of angels hanging around.