Christmas Music

Songwriter Johnny Marks is known for his Christmas music, and many of his songs have become holiday standards. These include “Rudolph, the Red nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Run Rudolph Run,” an “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” Burl Ives sang and recorded “A Holly Jolly Christmas” for the 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer. Ives provided the voice of Sam the Snowman, the narrator. Ives released it as a single in 1964, backed with “Snow for Johnny.” This version was also on the special’s soundtrack album. In 1965, Ives re-recorded it for his album titled (no surprise) Have a Holly Jolly Christmas. This re-recording was a bit slower and has become the one most-often heard. The song has charted many times over the years and is in ASCAP’s Top 25 most-performed holiday songs.

Burl Ives (1909-1995) was a popular actor, voice over actor, folk singer, musician, writer, and author. He had a four-decade movie career. He was a singing cowboy in Smoky (1946). He played Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Big Country (1958).

You probably know the words, but here are the lyrics to “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives:

“Have a holly, jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh, ho the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas
This year

(Have a holly, jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year)

Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh, ho the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas
This year”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives.