'twas The Night Before Christmas Lyrics - Perry Como

'Twas the night before Christmas, 

When all through the house, 

Not a creature was stirring, 

Not even a mouse! 

The stockings all hung 

By the chimney with care, 

In hopes that St. Nicholas 

Soon would be there! 

The children were nestled 

All safe in their beds, 

While visions of sugarplums 

Danced in their heads! 

And Mom in her kerchief 

And I in my cap, 

Had just settled down 

For a long winter's nap! 

When out on the lawn 

There arose such a clatter, 

I sprang from my bed 

To see what was the matter! 

Away to the window 

I flew like a flash, 

Tore open the shutters 

And threw up the sash! 

The moon on the breast 

Of the new fallen snow, 

Gave the lustre of midday 

To object below! 

When what to my wandering eyes 

Should appear, 

But a miniature sleigh 

And eight tiny reindeer! 

With a little ol' driver 

So lively and quick, 

I knew in a moment 

It must be St. Nick! 

More rapid than eagles 

His courses they came, 

As he whistled and shouted 

And called them by name: 

"Now Dasher, 

Now Dancer, 

Now Prancer, 

Now Vixen, 

On Comet, 

On Cupid, 

On Doner 

An' Blitzen!" 

To the top of the porch, 

To the top of the wall, 

Now dash-away, dash-away, 

Dash-away all! 

As dry leaves 

Before the wild hurricane fly, 

When they meet with an obstacle 

Mount to the sky. 

So, up to the housetop 

The courses they flew, 

With a sleigh full of toys 

And St. Nicholas too! 

And then in a twinkling 

I heard on the roof, 

The prancing and pawing 

Of each little hoof! 

As I drew in my head 

And was turning around, 

Down the chimney St. Nicholas 

Came with a bound! 

He was dressed all in fur 

From his head to his foot, 

And his clothes were all tarnished 

With ashes and soot! 

A bundle of toys 

He had flung on his back, 

And he looked like a peddler 

Just opening his pack! 

His eyes how they twinkled, 

His dimples how merry, 

His cheeks were like roses, 

His nose like a cherry! 

His drawl little mouth 

Was drawn up like a bow, 

And the beard of his chin 

Was a white as the snow! 

The stump of his pipe 

He held tight in his teeth, 

And the smoke it encircled his head 

Like a wreath! 

He had a broad face 

And a round little belly, 

That shook when he laughed 

Like a bowl full of jelly! 

He was chubby and plump, 

A right jolly old elf, 

I laughed when I saw him 

In spite of myself! 

A wink of his eye 

And a twist of his head, 

Soon gave me to know 

I had nothing to dread! 

He spoke not a word 

But went straight to his work, 

And filled all the stockings, 

Then turned with a jerk! 

An' laying a finger 

Along side his nose, 

An' giving a nod, 

Up the chimney he rose! 

He sprang to his sleigh, 

To his team gave a whistle, 

An' away they all flew 

Like the down of a thistle. 

But I heard him exclaim 

As he drove out of sight, 

"Happy Christmas to All, 

And to all a Goodnight!"