White Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: The Drifters, Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pinckney

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the magic of Christmas through the soulful sounds of The Drifters' "White Christmas." This classic doo-wop tune offers a unique and joyful way to learn English holiday vocabulary and expressions. The song's clear and heartfelt lyrics, combined with its catchy rhythm, make it a fun and memorable language-learning experience. What makes this version special is its blend of nostalgic sentiment with an upbeat, soulful performance that captures the spirit of the season in a way that is both timeless and uniquely American.

[English]

Doo doo

Doop doop, doop doo doop

Doo doo

Doop doop, doop doo doop

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,

Just like the ones I used to know,

Where those treetops glisten, and children listen,

To hear sleigh bells in the snow, the snow

Then, I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,

With every Christmas card I write,

May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,

And may all your Christmases be white

I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,

Just like the ones I used to know,

Where the treetops glisten, and children listen,

To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,

With every Christmas card I write,

May those days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,

...

And may all your Christmases be white

...

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells all the way ooo

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dreaming /ˈdriːmɪŋ/ A2	verb - experiencing images, emotions, or sensations during sleep
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of a color like fresh snow or milk
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ A1	noun - the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
treetops /ˈtriːtɒps/ B1	noun - the top part of a tree or trees
glisten /ˈɡlɪsən/ B2	verb - shine with a sparkling light
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - plural of child
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A1	verb - give one's attention to a sound
sleigh /sleɪ/ B1	noun - a vehicle on runners for traveling over snow or ice, often pulled by horses or reindeer
bells /bɛlz/ A2	noun - a hollow metal object, typically cup-shaped, that resonates when struck
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - precipitation in the form of ice crystals
card /kɑːrd/ A1	noun - a piece of thick stiff paper or thin pasteboard, typically rectangular, used for various purposes, such as writing or printing on
write /raɪt/ A1	verb - mark (paper, cloth, or other surface) with a pen, pencil, or similar implement, typically in order to record text
days /deɪz/ A1	noun - plural of day
merry /ˈmeri/ B1	adjective - cheerful and lively
bright /braɪt/ B2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining
jingle /ˈdʒɪŋɡəl/ B1	verb - make a light ringing sound noun - a light ringing sound

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

  ➔ Present Continuous for future plans/intentions/expectations. While grammatically it can also be interpreted as happening now, the context of the song suggests a future expectation.

  ➔ The phrase "I'm dreaming" implies a hopeful anticipation of experiencing a white Christmas. While "dreaming" is happening now, the object of the dream is a future event.

• Just like the ones I used to know

  ➔ "Used to" + base verb to express past habits or states that are no longer true. It shows a contrast between the past and the present.

  ➔ The speaker is referring to past Christmases that were white, implying that current Christmases may not always be white. "Used to know" means the speaker was familiar with these kinds of Christmas events in the past, but no longer necessarily experiences them now.

• Where those treetops glisten, and children listen,

  ➔ Relative Clause using "where" to describe a place (the Christmases). Simple present tense for describing habitual actions/states.

  ➔ "Where" connects the description of the white Christmases to the details that follow (glistening treetops, listening children). "Glisten" and "listen" in the simple present describe typical, recurring features of those past white Christmases.

• To hear sleigh bells in the snow

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose (to + base verb). Explains the reason why children are listening.

  ➔ The children are listening *in order to* hear the sleigh bells.

• With every Christmas card I write

  ➔ Preposition "with" indicating accompaniment or means. Simple Present tense for habitual action.

  ➔ The act of writing Christmas cards is always *accompanied by* the speaker's dreaming of a white Christmas. The present simple "write" emphasizes the habitual nature of this action.

• May your days be merry and bright

  ➔ "May" as an auxiliary verb expressing a wish or hope. It is used in formal or poetic contexts.

  ➔ The structure "May + subject + verb" expresses a wish. It is similar to saying "I hope your days are merry and bright".