Holly Jolly Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Bublé
• Album: Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition)

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a joyful experience, and what better way to do so than through the festive cheer of Michael Bublé's "Holly Jolly Christmas." This song is filled with simple, positive, and common holiday vocabulary that is easy to pick up. The clear and smooth enunciation by Bublé makes it perfect for language learners to follow along and sing along. The song's upbeat and universally understood message of happiness and goodwill during Christmas makes it a special and accessible entry point into the English language.

[English]

Have a holly, jolly Christmas

It's the best time of the year

Now I don't know if there'll be snow

But have a cup of cheer

Have a holly, jolly Christmas

And when you walk down the street

Say hello to friends you know

And everyone you meet

Oh, ho, the mistletoe

It's hung where you can see

Somebody waits for you

Kiss her once for me

Have a holly, jolly Christmas

And in case you didn't hear

Oh, by golly

Have a holly, jolly Christmas this year

...

Oh, ho, the mistletoe

It's hung where you can see

Somebody waits for you

Kiss her once for me

Have a holly, jolly Christmas

And in case you didn't hear

Oh, by golly

Have a holly, jolly Christmas this year

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
holly /ˈhɑː.li/ B1	noun - an evergreen tree or shrub with prickly dark green leaves and red berries, used for decoration at Christmas
jolly /ˈdʒɑː.li/ B2	adjective - happy and cheerful
Christmas /ˈkrɪs.məs/ A1	noun - the festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, held on December 25
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; a moment, point, or period
year /jɪr/ A1	noun - the period of time that it takes the earth to travel once around the sun
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - frozen water that falls from the sky as soft, white flakes
cup /kʌp/ A1	noun - a small, open container, usually with a handle, used for drinking
cheer /tʃɪr/ B1	noun - happiness and good spirits verb - to shout loudly in encouragement or approval
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
mistletoe /ˈmɪs.əl.toʊ/ B2	noun - a plant with white berries that is traditionally hung up at Christmas, and people kiss under it
hung /hʌŋ/ A2	verb - past participle of hang: to suspend or be suspended from above
waits /weɪts/ A2	verb - to remain in place or be ready for something
kiss /kɪs/ A1	verb - to touch with the lips as a sign of love, affection, or greeting

Key Grammar Structures

• Have a holly, jolly Christmas

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb "have" is used in the imperative mood to express a wish or command.

• It's the best time of the year

  ➔ Superlative Adjective

  ➔ "Best" is the superlative form of the adjective "good", indicating the highest degree of the quality.

• Now I don't know if there'll be snow

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Implicit)

  ➔ The "if" clause introduces a condition. Although not explicitly stated, the sentence implies a result depending on whether it snows.

• But have a cup of cheer

  ➔ Imperative Mood (again)

  ➔ Similar to the first line, "have" is used in the imperative to encourage the listener to enjoy the holiday season.

• And when you walk down the street

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time

  ➔ The "when" clause indicates the time or condition under which the main clause action occurs.

• Say hello to friends you know

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ The clause "you know" is a relative clause that modifies the noun "friends". It is a defining relative clause that provides essential information about which friends to greet.

• It's hung where you can see

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Place

  ➔ The "where" clause specifies the location where the mistletoe is hung.

• Kiss her once for me

  ➔ Imperative Sentence

  ➔ The sentence is a direct command or request.