“Up on the House Top” was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by “Jingle Bells”, which was written in 1857. It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. In fact, Hanby was the first to offer up the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes. (source)

Lyrics

Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joysRefrain
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint Nick

First comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyes. Refrain

Look in the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill!
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
Whistle and ball and a whip that cracks. Refrain

Links

• more Christmas songs
• more songs with the tonic triad in the melody
• more songs with I IV V chords

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  • Song with chords
  • Simple accompaniment
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