Deck the Halls

Sing A Long with Santa and Elves

Featuring the WAY UP NORTH Canadian Bacon Brass Ensemble

FROM WIKI

“Deck the Halls” or “Deck the Hall” (which is the 1877 title) is a traditional Christmas, yuletide, and New Years’ carol. The melody is Welsh dating back to the sixteenth century^{[citation needed]}, and belongs to a winter carol, “Nos Galan”, while the English lyrics date to 1862.

The English lyrics first appeared (still called “Nos Galan”) in volume 2 of Welsh Melodies, a set of four volumes authored by John Thomas with Welsh words by John Jones (Talhaiarn) and English words by the Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant,^[1] although the repeated “fa la la” goes back to the original Welsh “Nos Galan” and may originate from medieval ballads.^[2] The song is in AABA form.^[3] The series Welsh Melodies appears in four volumes, the first two in 1862, the third in 1870 and the final volume in 1874. As can be seen from the translation of “Nos Galan” below, “Deck the Hall(s)” is not a translation but new words by Oliphant to an old song.

Lyrics

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.
Troll the ancient Yule tide 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 Yule tide 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.