White Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: Say Now

Lyrics & Translation

As one of the world's most enduring and best-selling songs, 'White Christmas' by Say Now (a cover of the Irving Berlin classic) provides an excellent opportunity to study the language of melancholy and nostalgia in English. Listeners can learn about cultural idioms ('white Christmas') and the evocative power of simple language, all while experiencing a contemporary take on a timeless holiday classic.

[English]

Oh,

[singing]

[music]

[singing]

Christmas.

I'm dreaming of a white [singing]

Christmas

just like the ones I used to know.

[singing] When the treetops

glisten and children [music]

listen to

sleigh bells in the snow,

[singing]

[music]

dreaming of a white

Christmas

[music] with [singing] every Christmas

card I ride.

Oh, may your days be mer and be [music]

right. [singing]

And may all your Christmases be white.

I'm dreaming of a [music] white

why

Christmas.

All I want is a [music] white

Christmas.

I've been dreaming of why [singing]

Christmas

dreaming of why

Christmas [music and singing]

dreaming of a [singing]

Christmas

just like the ones I used to

Be merry and [music and singing] bright.

All your Christmases be why.

Be why

be

[music and singing]

and bright.

Wish you a white [music]

Christmas.

[singing]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dreaming /ˈdriːmɪŋ/ B1	verb - to have thoughts, images, or sensations while asleep.
white /waɪt/ A2	adjective - of the color of snow.
Christmas /ˈkrɪsməs/ A2	noun - the annual Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
glisten /ˈɡlɪsən/ B2	verb - to shine with a sparkling light.
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - plural of child.
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A2	verb - to give one's attention to a sound.
sleigh /sleɪ/ B1	noun - a vehicle pulled by horses or other animals over snow.
snow /snəʊ/ A1	noun - frozen crystalline water falling as precipitation.
card /kɑːrd/ A2	noun - a small rectangular piece of thick paper or thin pasteboard.
ride /raɪd/ A2	verb - to sit on and control the movement of (an animal or vehicle).
days /deɪz/ A1	noun - plural of day.
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light.
merry /ˈmeri/ A2	adjective - cheerful and lively.
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to express a desire for something.

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'm dreaming" uses the present continuous tense to describe an action happening now or an ongoing state of mind.

• just like the ones I used to know

  ➔ Used to

  ➔ The phrase "used to know" indicates a past habit or state that is no longer true.

• When the treetops glisten

  ➔ Subordinate Clause

  ➔ The phrase "When the treetops glisten" is a subordinate clause that sets the condition or time for the main idea.

• May your days be merry and bright

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ The phrase "May your days be merry" uses the subjunctive mood to express a wish or desire.

• All I want is a white Christmas

  ➔ Emphatic Structure

  ➔ The phrase "All I want is" is an emphatic structure that highlights the importance of the following statement.

• And may all your Christmases be white

  ➔ Plural Noun + Subjunctive

  ➔ The phrase uses a plural noun "Christmases" with the subjunctive mood to express a wish for multiple instances.