We Wish you a Merry Christmas

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

Carol, England (UK).

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is a traditional English 16th century carol and the only one amongst traditional holiday carols that makes a reference to the celebration of the New Year.

This is quite often the last carol sung on Christmas Eve, so carolers wish the best for all the celebrations during this Season’s Holidays.

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Sing-Along Video with Lyrics


Lyrics

1. We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2. Oh, bring us a figgy pudding,
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding,
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

3. We won’t go until we get some,
We won’t go until we get some,
We won’t go until we get some, so bring some out here.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

4. We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Click here for more free printable Christmas lyrics.


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…”

“We wish you a Merry Christmas” free instrumental mp3 download (instrumental, 1:37 – 6/8 – bpm)


Song

Listen to the sing-along version of this song:


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Listen to amazing vocal versions on our NEW “Singing Christmas with Our Kids Vol. 1” album and buy for only 9.99$/€


Click on the button to watch a piano tutorial video and download a PDF file with music score of this song for free.

Click here for more free Christmas sheet music.


Click on the button to watch a glockenspiel / xylophone tutorial video and download a free printable PDF file with glockenspiel /  xylophone Music Sheet and Note Chart of this song.

xylophone glockenspiel sheet music chart tutorial video


Song History

The origins of the famous Christmas carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” can be traced back to England. The exact date and authorship of its creations are unclear, though it is generally believed to have come into existence sometime between the 16th and 19th centuries and is distinct in terms of its longevity compared to other carols. The carol first began its rise to popularity in 1935, and it can be induced that it is relatively new compared to other traditional carols as it is not mentioned in historical texts pertaining to such.

The intent of the song, in addition to recognizing the Christmas holiday, is to humorously harass the person or household you are singing the carol to (traditionally on Christmas Eve) in order to convince them to give you some type of gift to stop.

The lyrics of the song are satirical in nature and remind us of an era when, according to the English tradition, poor carolers would sing to the wealthier members of the community for treats, and wouldn’t leave their doorsteps until they got what they received those treats, thus making the Victorian English upper class call them “waits”.

The singers kindly greet the landlord with the opening line. However, there’s space for humour, as carolers shamelessly ask for figgy pudding “right here” – a demand which consequently means those lyrics should be sung in a teasing tone.

Figgy pudding is a traditional English Christmas dessert similar to American Christmas pudding. According to several sources, in the West Country of England “figgy pudding” was a raisin or plum pudding, not necessarily one containing figs.

The tune remains popular to this day and as such has been performed by a diverse, global array of popular artists in addition to being standard during Christmastime in churches, symphonies and amongst common carolers.


We Wish you a Merry Christmas | Free Christmas Carols & Songs
We Wish you a Merry Christmas

We Wish you a Merry Christmas


We Wish you a Merry Christmas | Free Christmas Carols & Songs
We Wish you a Merry Christmas

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Daniel

    This negative is verry verry good for a concert of ypur school, and your family! Happy Christmas and a happy New year for y’all :*

  2. Tatyana

    Thank you SOOOOO MUCH!!!

    1. Singing Bell

      You’re welcome, Tatyana! 😉

      1. Dai Tran

        Hello. Can I use it on my game? 😀

  3. Lars

    Hey,
    the harmonies in “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” aren’t correct in bar 2: C, and in bar 6: B7.

    Bye 🙂

    1. Singing Bell

      I was informed that was corrected soon after you reported it, Lars, so thanks a lot!

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