Carol, Wales (UK).
In an era of festive holiday songs, “Deck the Halls” stands out as one of the most beloved and memorable carols.
This traditional Christmas song is believed to be of Welsh origin, written in the 1700s and first published in 1823 in Cambrian Monthly Magazine. It was probably based on the Welsh carol “Nos Galan”.
Since then, different versions have been composed by musicians who translated it from its original meaning set to music for five voices and piano accompaniment. With lyrics that reference joy, cheer and alcohol, it’s thought to have been written as a drinking song celebrating special occasions such as weddings or Christmas festivities. Whether you’re singing “Deck The Halls” at Christmas or humming along while decorating your home, its joyful message is sure to bring a smile to your face!
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used it in a piano and violin duet in the 1700’s.
Table of Contents
- Sing-Along Video with Lyrics
- Free karaoke MP3 download
- Song
- Deck the Halls Sheet Music
- Who wrote Deck the Halls?
- Deck the Halls History
- Deck the Halls Meaning
Sing-Along Video with Lyrics
Welsh lyrics
O mor gynnes mynwes meinwen,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
O mor fwyn yw llwya meillionen,
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
O mor felus yw’r cusanau,
[instrumental flourish]
Gyda serch a mwynion eiriau
fal lal lal lal lal lal lal lal la:
Lyrics (English)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Toll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Christmas treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Click on the button to watch a karaoke video and download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
Free karaoke MP3 download
To download your free instrumental mp3 of this song, click or tap on the following button, then choose “Save link as…”
“Deck the halls” free mp3 download (instrumental, 1:20 – 4/4 – 95.1 bpm)
Song
Listen to the sing-along version of this song:
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Deck the Halls Sheet Music
Sheet music with chords in D
To save this free music sheet of “Deck The Halls” to your computer, right click (or tap and hold, on mobile devices) and choose “Save Image As…”.
Sheet music with chords in C
To save this free music sheet of “Deck The Halls” to your computer, right click (or tap and hold, on mobile devices) and choose “Save Image As…”.
Free Printable PDF with Sheet Music and Lyrics
To download a printable PDF of this song for music activities with sheet music, lyrics and a drawing for kids to paint, click on the button above or on the following link.
Deck The Halls | Free PDF download – Singing Bell
Click on the button to watch a piano tutorial video and download a PDF file with piano sheet music of this song for free.
Who wrote Deck the Halls?
The traditional Christmas carol “Deck the Halls” is believed to be of Welsh origin, written in the 1700s. It was first published in a magazine called Cambrian Monthly Magazine and songbook titled Welsh Melodies in 1823 by John Thomas who worked as an editor for the publication. The lyrics were later translated into English and set to music by musician John Stainer in 1880.
Deck the Halls History
It’s unknown who wrote the original Welsh words, but it is believed that they may have been composed by a harpist named Evan Evans who lived between 1731 and 1789. Over time, different versions of the song started to appear, with the English lyrics reflecting a slight change in the original meaning of the Welsh words. The now-famous melody was composed by John Stainer who arranged it for five voices and piano accompaniment.
Deck the Halls Meaning
“Deck the Halls” is believed to be an old drinking song, as many of its verses reference alcohol. It’s also thought to have been written in celebration of special occasions such as weddings or Christmas festivities. In its most basic form, “Deck the Halls” is about enjoying the holiday season and spreading good cheer among friends and family. The term “deck” means to adorn or decorate, which explains why this carol encourages us to deck our homes with holiday decorations in order to bring joy and happiness to all who come to visit.
The message of this song is a timeless one; it reminds us of the importance of celebrating our relationships, traditions, and festivities during the holidays. Whether you’re singing “Deck the Halls” at Christmas, or just humming along while decorating your home, its joyful lyrics will bring a smile to your face!
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Excellent!!!:) But why don’t you put the french on the mp3 and midi music too!
Otherwise excellent! My children loved it!!!!!:)
Thanks Georgios! We are not exactly sure to which french you are referring to, though!
Can I use this jingle for a video I will share on social media?
Hi Barbara! We had missed your comment here, sorry. If it’s not for commercial reasons, you sure can. However, monetized YouTube videos are a different story, so write to [email protected] if you need a commercial license for that.