One Wish (For Christmas) – English Lyrics

• By: Whitney Houston
• Album: One Wish: The Holiday Album

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt warmth of Whitney Houston's "One Wish (For Christmas)" to not only enjoy a timeless holiday classic but also to explore the nuances of English through its emotive lyrics. This R&B and gospel-infused ballad, with its clear articulation and poignant message of unity and peace, offers an excellent opportunity to understand English vocabulary related to hope, celebration, and spiritual themes. Whitney's powerful yet controlled vocals make the lyrics easy to follow, allowing listeners to grasp both the explicit and implicit meanings of this beautiful holiday wish.

[English]

(one wish by Whitney Houston plays)

(Whitney Houston harmonizing)

♪ If there were no presents waiting on Santa's sleigh, ♪

♪ What would I wish for Christmas? ♪

♪ And if Frosty, the Snowman were melting away ♪

♪ I would pray for hope and unity on Christmas day. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas ♪

♪ there would be joy and peace here on Earth. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas this year. ♪

♪ We would all come together, as one. ♪

♪ If Rudolph and his reindeer ran into delays. ♪

♪ I'd still hope for joy, this season. ♪

♪ And if somehow Santa got lost on his way, ♪

♪ I would try to find a way to smile. ♪

♪ Smile on Christmas day. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas. ♪

♪ There would be joy and peace here on Earth. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas this year. ♪

♪ We would all come together as one. ♪

♪ You know it ain't about all those material things, no no. ♪

♪ What you've gotta think about is the love ♪

♪ Christmas brings. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas, ♪

♪ there would be joy and peace on Earth. ♪

♪ If I had one wish... ♪

♪ Just one. ♪

♪ Just one. ♪

♪...for Christmas this year ♪

♪ That we'd all come together as one. ♪

♪ Together as one. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas. ♪

♪ There would be joy and peace here on Earth. ♪

♪ If I had one. ♪

♪ If I had one. ♪

♪ If I had one wish for Christmas this year. ♪

♪ That we'd all, we'd all come together as one. ♪

♪ As one. ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	noun - a desire or hope for something verb - to hope or want something to happen
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ A1	noun - the annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
joy /dʒɔɪ/ B1	noun - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
peace /piːs/ B1	noun - a state of tranquility or quiet
Earth /ɜːrθ/ A1	noun - the planet on which we live
together /təˈɡeðər/ A2	adjective - in a group or in union
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing verb - to want something to happen or be true
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - a pleased, kind, or happy facial expression verb - to make a smiling expression
present /ˈprɛzənt/ A2	noun - a gift
material /məˈtɪəriəl/ B2	adjective - relating to physical possessions or wealth
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
snowman /ˈsnoʊmæn/ B1	noun - a figure made of packed snow resembling a human
reindeer /ˈreɪndɪər/ B2	noun - a type of deer found in cold northern regions
delay /dɪˈleɪ/ B2	noun - a period of time by which something is late or postponed verb - to make something late or postponed

Key Grammar Structures

• If there were no presents waiting on Santa's sleigh,

  ➔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical situation)

  ➔ The phrase "If there were no presents" shows a hypothetical or unreal condition in the present or future.

• I would pray for hope and unity on Christmas day.

  ➔ Use of "would" in conditional sentences

  ➔ "Would" indicates the result or consequence in hypothetical or conditional sentences.

• If Rudolph and his reindeer ran into delays.

  ➔ Past simple tense used in the 'if' clause of second conditional

  ➔ The verb "ran" is past simple used in a hypothetical condition introduced by "if".

• You know it ain't about all those material things, no no.

  ➔ Colloquial contraction "ain't" to mean "is not"

  ➔ "Ain't" is an informal contraction combining "am not", "is not", or "are not" depending on context.

• What you've gotta think about is the love Christmas brings.

  ➔ Present perfect contraction "you've got to" meaning "you have to" (modal verb phrase)

  ➔ "You've gotta" is an informal way of saying "you have got to" which means "you must" or "you have to".

• That we'd all come together as one.

  ➔ Use of subjunctive mood (expressing wishes or hopes)

  ➔ "That we'd all come together" implies a desired or wished-for action, common in expressing hopes.

• I'd still hope for joy, this season.

  ➔ Contraction of 'I would' expressing willingness or hypothetical intent

  ➔ "I'd" is the contraction of "I would" used here to express a conditional hope or intention.

• Smile on Christmas day.

  ➔ Imperative sentence (giving a gentle command or suggestion)

  ➔ "Smile" here is an imperative, encouraging someone to perform the action on Christmas day.