Our Improv shows play a number of holiday parties every year. And every year a certain big guy dressed in red joins the ranks. We often are asked to sing some carols so hear is a list of mostly secular carols every party performer and attendee should know. There are 100s of popular songs and 1000s of not so popular hymns and carols. Here is a launching point. In a few days I will post my top 10 favorite sacred carols.

1. Jingle Bells

– how many verses do you know

Dashing through the snow
On a one horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tail ring,
making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

CHORUS

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago,
I thought I’d take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank,
And then we got upsot.

CHORUS

Now the ground is white
Go it while you’re young
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song
Just get a bob tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you’ll take the lead

CHORUS

2. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen,
Comet, and Cupid, and Donder and Blitzen
But do you recall The most famous reindeer of all

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas eve Santa came to say:
“Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

Then all the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you’ll go down in history!

3. Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul,
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made of coal.

Frosty the Snowman, is a fairytale, they say.
He was made of snow, but the children know he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found,
For when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around!

Oh, Frosty, the Snowman, was alive as he could be; and the children say he could laugh and play,
just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump, look at Frosty go.
Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump, over the hills of snow.

Frosty the Snowman, knew the sun was hot that day, so he said, “Let’s run, and we’ll have some fun now, before I melt away.”

Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there, all around the square,
sayin’, “Catch me if you can.”

He led them down the streets of town, right to the traffic cop;
and only paused a moment, when he heard him holler, “Stop!”

For Frosty, the Snowman, had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye, sayin’ “Don’t cry, I’ll be back again some day.”

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump, look at Frosty go.
Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump, over the hills of snow.

4. Santa Claus is coming to town

You better watch out, You better not cry
Better not pout I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He’s making a list, And checking it twice
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

Don’t forget bad Elvis Impersonation on next tune. Oh and try a little Bruce Springsteen above.

5. Here Comes Santa Claus

Here comes Santa Claus,
here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin’ on the reins
Bells are ringin’, children singin’
All is merry and bright
Hang your stockings and say your prayers
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

Here comes Santa Claus,
here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
He’s got a bag that’s filled with toys
For boys and girls again
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
Oh what a beautiful sight
So jump in bed and cover your head
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

6. White Christmas

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all
Your Christmases be white

7. Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening?
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away, is the bluebird
Here to stay, is a new bird
He sings a love song,
While we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say Are you married
We’ll say No Man
But you can do the job
When you’re in town

Later on we’ll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid, The plans that we’ve made
Walking in a winter wonderland

8. Jingle Bell Rock

9. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

10. Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano y Felicidad.

Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano y Felicidad.

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart.

BONUS

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Long story being short…

This is the American Pie of Christmas Carols – length wise. I am not going to write out the entire song here. The internet is cluttered enough as it is but here are the basics…

2 Turtle Doves

3 French Hens

4 Calling Birds

5 Golden Rings

6 Geese a Laying

7 Swans a Swimming

8 Maids a Milking

9 Ladies Dancing

10 Lords a Leaping

11 Pipers Piping

12 Drummers Drumming

AND OF COURSE WE ALWAYS END WITH

… and a Partridge in a Pear Tree…

HANGOVERS – oh wait, wrong version…