'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
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Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
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In the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
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The children were nestled all snug in their beds
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While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
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Mom in her kerchief and I in my cap
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Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.
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When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
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I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
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Away to the window I flew with a flash
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Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
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The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
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Gave a luster of mid-day to objects below.
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When what to my wondering eyes should appear
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But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
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With a little old driver so lively and quick
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Well I knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick
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More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came
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And he whistled and he shouted and he called them by name
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"On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen
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On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!
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To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall
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Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
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As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
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When they meet to an obstacle mount to the sky
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So up to the rooftop the coursers they flew
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With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too.
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And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
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The prancing, the pawing of each little hoof
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As I drew in my head and was turning around
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Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
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He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
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And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot
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A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
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And he looked like a peddler just op'ning his pack
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His eyes, how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry
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His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry
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His droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow
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And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow
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The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth
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And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath
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He had a broad face and a little round belly
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That shook when laughed (ho, ho, ho, ho) like a bowl full of jelly (ho, ho, ho, ho)
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
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And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself
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A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
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Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread
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He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
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And filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk
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And laying a finger to the side of his nose
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And giving a nod up the chimney he rose
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He sprang to his sleigh, and to his team gave a whistle
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle
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But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
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"Merry Christmas to all and to all..goodnight
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Goodnight."
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'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
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| Peter, Paul & Mary |
