White Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: Eric Clapton
• Album: Happy Xmas

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a unique linguistic journey this holiday season with Eric Clapton's "White Christmas." This blues-infused take on the timeless classic offers a distinctive blend of traditional English lyrics with Clapton's signature musical style. By listening to his nuanced vocal delivery and the bluesy guitar work, you can explore how emotions are conveyed through both melody and lyric. It's a fantastic opportunity to hear familiar words in a fresh context, making the English language's expressive capabilities shine through a beloved holiday song.

[English]

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the tree tops glisten and children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white

Yes may all your Christmases be white

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dream /driːm/ A2	verb - to imagine or wish for something while sleeping or in one's mind
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of the colour of milk or snow
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ B1	noun - annual Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus
tree /triː/ A1	noun - a perennial plant with a trunk and branches
top /tɒp/ A1	noun - the highest part or point
glisten /ˈɡlɪsən/ C1	verb - to shine with a soft, reflecting light
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A2	verb - to give attention to sound
hear /hɪər/ A1	verb - to perceive sound
sleigh /sleɪ/ B2	noun - a vehicle on runners for traveling over snow
bell /bɛl/ A1	noun - a hollow metal object that makes sound when struck
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - frozen precipitation in the form of white flakes
card /kɑːrd/ A1	noun - a piece of thick paper used for writing messages
write /raɪt/ A1	verb - to form letters or symbols on a surface
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - a 24‑hour period
merry /ˈmɛri/ B2	adjective - cheerful, lively, full of joy
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving out a lot of light; vivid
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of; to have knowledge
use /juːz/ A1	verb - to employ for a purpose
one /wʌn/ A1	noun - the number 1; a single thing

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

  ➔ Present Continuous (I'm dreaming)

  ➔ The present continuous tense expresses an action that is currently happening or has a temporary duration.

• Just like the ones I used to know

  ➔ Just like (as...as) + Past Simple (used to know)

  ➔ This construction compares two things, using 'just like' and specifying the past action with 'used to' and the past simple.

• Where the tree tops glisten and children listen

  ➔ Where (where...) + Present Simple (glisten) + and (and) + Present Simple (listen)

  ➔ This sentence uses 'where' to specify a location, followed by two present simple verbs 'glisten' and 'listen' connected by 'and'.

• To hear sleigh bells in the snow

  ➔ To (to...) + Infinitive (hear) + in (in) + Present Simple (snow)

  ➔ This construction uses 'to' followed by the infinitive 'hear' and specifies the location with 'in' and the present simple 'snow'.

• May your days be merry and bright

  ➔ May (may...) + Present Simple (be) + your (your) + days (days) + be (be) + merry (merry) + and (and) + bright (bright)

  ➔ This sentence expresses a wish using 'may' followed by the present simple 'be' and specifies the subject 'your' and the object 'days', with additional adjectives 'merry' and 'bright'.

• And may all your Christmases be white

  ➔ And (and) + Present Simple (be) + all (all) + your (your) + Christmases (Christmases) + be (be) + white (white)

  ➔ This sentence continues the wish, using 'and' followed by the present simple 'be' and specifying 'all' of the subject's 'Christmases' as 'white'.