The Christmas Song

The Christmas Song was created in quite interesting circumstances. It was summer 1944 and Mel Torme was in California. He was a well-known jazz singer at the time, who also played drums, was an actor (appeared on screen with Frank Sinatra, among others) and a pilot. He was a valued artist in the sphere of jazz musicians. He composed around 500 pieces, several of which have become jazz standards.

The Christmas Song

That summer was exceptionally hot. Whole California was roasting under the cloudless sky. Mel Torme later reminisced that he had dreamed about a glacier. These fantasies brought to his mind images of snowy winter in New York during Christmas time. He longed for winter so much that he wrote the melody of The Christmas Song to make himself feel better.

Mel Torme

A few days later he met in a pub his friend Bob Wells, a lyricist he often worked with. They spent a moment complaining about the heat and Torme came up with the idea that Wells could write lyrics for a winter song. Torme offered the first few words: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ..." (sometimes used as the song title). Wells joined the fun and within 40 minutes the text for Torme’s song was ready. Wells had no idea that he had just co-created one of the greatest Christmas tunes.

The song immediately gained one huge fan. He was Nat King Cole. His first recording of The Christmas Song took place in 1946 with small string section. Later he recorded the song three more times. The last time was in 1961 with the whole orchestra.

Merry Christmas

After that the song’s fame grew steadily and it was recorded more and more often. It’s hard to name all the artists, but it is fair to say that most jazz vocalists have The Christmas Song on their list of achievements. Every year new versions emerge before Christmas. I think this trend will continue for years to come.

I really like to listen to this song in the days before Christmas. On Christmas’ Eve I prefer Little Drummer Boy and our beautiful Polish carols.

I would like to wish all the visitors to my site joyful but also majestic Christmas, as well as faith and optimism for the days after the festive season. I hope I can tempt you to sit around the Christmas tree singing carols and those who can play instruments to join in. Merry Christmas!

A Happy Christmas

The Christmas Song lyrics:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like eskimos
Everybody knows some tofu and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow 
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys
And goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so, I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although its been said 
Many times, many ways
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to.. You! 

Christmas Greetings