By Christmas Eve – English Lyrics

• By: John Legend
• Album: A Legendary Christmas

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a journey of love and determination with John Legend's "By Christmas Eve." This soulful Christmas track, rich with evocative lyrics, offers a wonderful opportunity to learn English through its narrative of overcoming obstacles to be with family. Discover vocabulary related to travel, emotions, and holiday traditions, and appreciate how Legend's emotive delivery makes every word resonate, perfect for understanding the universal desire for connection during the festive season.

[English]

I'm a thousand miles away

It's not snowing in LA

But I'm phonin' just to say

I'm sorry

All the flights have been delayed

I've got nowhere to stay

But if I can find my way

I'll hurry

Just hang up the Christmas lights

And I'll do the rest tonight

Just tell the kids I'm coming

I swear that I'll be running

And under the Christmas tree

Together, yeah, we will be

I promise

I'm gonna walk, if I have to run

I'll stand on the highway and stop someone

I'll cross the deserts and oceans

A river that's frozen

I'll follow the stars just to find where you are

You can count on me

Make a wish, close your eyes, and believe

I'll be home, home, home, home

Home

By Christmas Eve

...

And I know it's all on you

Keep it together like you're glue

And everything you do

I notice

So I'll bring presents, I'll bring wine

The mistletoe for you and I

And I'll be there just in time

To show it

Just hang up the Christmas lights

And I'll do the rest tonight

And tell the kids I'm coming

I swear that I'll be running

Under the Christmas tree

Together, yeah, we will be

I promise

I'm gonna walk, if I have to run

I'll stand on the highway and stop someone

I'll cross the deserts and oceans

A river that's frozen

I'll follow the stars just to find where you are

You can count on me

Make a wish, close your eyes, and believe

I'll be home, home, home, home

Home

By Christmas Eve

Whoa, I'll find my way back to California

I'll follow the map, yeah, to somewhere warmer

I'll carry my bags just until I can hold you again

Oh, I'm gonna walk, if I have to run

I'll stand on the highway and stop someone

I'll cross the deserts and oceans

A river that's frozen

I'll follow the stars just to find where you are

You can count on me

Make a wish, close your eyes, and believe

I'll be home, home, home, home

Home

By Christmas Eve

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
miles /maɪlz/ A2	noun - a unit of distance
snowing /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/ A2	verb - falling as snow
delayed /dɪˈleɪd/ B1	adjective - happening at a later time than planned
hurry /ˈhʌri/ A2	verb - to do something quickly
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - sources of illumination
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A2	verb - moving rapidly on foot
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ B1	noun - a declaration assuring that one will do something
highway /ˈhaɪweɪ/ B1	noun - a main road for travel
deserts /ˈdezərts/ B2	noun - arid land
frozen /ˈfroʊzn/ B1	adjective - turned into ice
stars /stɑrz/ A2	noun - luminous celestial bodies
believe /bɪˈliːv/ B1	verb - to accept something as true
glue /gluː/ A2	noun - a sticky substance used to bind things together
notice /ˈnoʊtɪs/ B1	verb - to become aware of something
presents /ˈprezənts/ A2	noun - gifts
mistletoe /ˈmɪsltoʊ/ C1	noun - a parasitic plant often used in Christmas decorations
California /ˌkælɪˈfɔːrniə/ B2	noun - a state in the United States
warmer /ˈwɔːrmər/ A2	adjective - having a higher temperature

Key Grammar Structures

• If I can find my way, I'll hurry.

  ➔ First conditional (if + present simple, will + base verb)

  ➔ The clause "If I *can* find my way" uses the present simple "can" to talk about a possible future situation, and "I'll *hurry*" shows the result with "will" + base verb.

• Just hang up the Christmas lights and I'll do the rest tonight.

  ➔ Imperative + future simple with "will"

  ➔ The command "Just *hang* up the Christmas lights" is an imperative. The speaker then promises with "I'll *do* the rest tonight" using "will" + base verb for future intention.

• I promise.

  ➔ Simple present for a promise

  ➔ "I *promise*" uses the simple present "promise" to make a firm commitment in the present.

• I'm a thousand miles away.

  ➔ Present continuous for a temporary state

  ➔ "I'm *a thousand miles away*" uses "am" + adjective phrase to describe a temporary situation, typical of the present continuous.

• Make a wish, close your eyes, and believe.

  ➔ Imperative series with parallel verbs

  ➔ Each verb – "*Make* a wish", "*close* your eyes", "*believe*" – is in the imperative mood, giving three direct instructions.

• I swear that I'll be running.

  ➔ Future continuous after a reporting verb

  ➔ "I swear that *I'll be running*" combines the reporting verb "swear" with the future continuous "will be running" to describe an action that will be in progress at a future time.

• I'll cross the deserts and oceans.

  ➔ Future simple with modal "will"

  ➔ "I'll *cross* the deserts and oceans" uses "will" + base verb "cross" to express a definite future action.

• Whoa, I'll find my way back to California.

  ➔ Future simple with interjection and prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Whoa" is an interjection expressing surprise. "I'll *find* my way back to California" uses "will" + base verb "find" followed by the prepositional phrase "to California" indicating destination.