The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) – English Lyrics

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

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the festive spirit and enhance your English language skills with Michael Bublé's classic, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)." This song offers a rich vocabulary of traditional winter and holiday imagery, delivered with Bublé's impeccably clear and warm crooning style. Its smooth melodies and straightforward lyrics make it an excellent choice for improving listening comprehension and appreciating poetic descriptions of a cozy Christmas.

[English]

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe

Will help to make the season bright

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way

He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh

And every mother's child is gonna spy

To see if reindeer really know how to fly

So, I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety-two

Although it's been said many times, many ways

Merry Christmas to you

And every mother's child is gonna spy

To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so, I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety-two

Although it's been said, many times, many ways

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chestnuts /ˈtʃes.nʌts/ B1	noun - smooth brown nuts that can be eaten
roasting /ˈroʊ.stɪŋ/ B1	verb - cooking food by dry heat in an oven or over a fire
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - the state of burning that produces heat and light
frost /frɒst/ B1	noun - a thin, white layer of ice that forms when it is very cold
nipping /ˈnɪpɪŋ/ B2	verb - to bite or squeeze (something) sharply
carols /ˈkærəlz/ B1	noun - religious folk songs or popular hymns, particularly associated with Christmas
sung /sʌŋ/ A2	verb - past participle of sing
choir /ˈkwaɪər/ B1	noun - a group of people who sing together
dressed /drest/ A2	verb - to put clothes on
mistletoe /ˈmɪsəltoʊ/ B2	noun - a plant with white berries, traditionally used as a Christmas decoration
season /ˈsiː.zən/ A2	noun - one of the four periods of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter
bright /braɪt/ B2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight
aglow /əˈɡloʊ/ C1	adjective - glowing; radiant.
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest with your eyes closed
toys /tɔɪz/ A1	noun - an object for children to play with
sleigh /sleɪ/ B1	noun - a vehicle mounted on runners for use in winter on snow or ice
reindeer /ˈreɪn.dɪər/ B1	noun - a deer with large antlers, native to Arctic regions.
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - to move through the air using wings
merry /ˈmeri/ B1	adjective - cheerful and lively

Key Grammar Structures

• Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ The word "roasting" is a present participle acting as an adjective describing the "chestnuts". It indicates an ongoing action.

• Jack Frost nipping at your nose

  ➔ Present Participle with a Noun

  ➔ "Nipping" is a present participle used to describe the action of "Jack Frost". This creates a vivid image.

• Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

  ➔ Present Continuous Passive

  ➔ "Being sung" shows a passive action (carols being sung, not singing) that's happening in progress.

• Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe

  ➔ Noun clause as object (that clause implied)

  ➔ The sentence could be read as 'Everybody knows *that* a turkey and some mistletoe...'. The clause after 'knows' is the object of the verb.

• Will help to make the season bright

  ➔ Future Simple with infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "Will help" is the future simple tense. "To make" is an infinitive of purpose, explaining *why* the turkey and mistletoe will help.

• Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase with Adjective

  ➔ "With their eyes all aglow" is a prepositional phrase modifying "tiny tots", describing the state of their eyes. "Aglow" functions as an adjective.

• To see if reindeer really know how to fly

  ➔ Indirect Question with 'if'

  ➔ The clause "if reindeer really know how to fly" is an indirect question acting as the object of the verb "see". It expresses doubt or uncertainty.

• Although it's been said many times, many ways

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Concession with Past Perfect Passive

  ➔ "Although" introduces a clause of concession. "It's been said" is in the present perfect passive voice, indicating that the action of saying has already happened multiple times before now. The past perfect passive voice emphasises the completion of the action prior to the main clause.