This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
It was the night before Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
The stockings all hung
By the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Soon would be there
The children were nestled
All safe in their beds
While visions of sugarplums
Danced in their heads
And mom in her kerchief
And I in my cap
Had just settled down
For a long winter's nap
When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed
To see what was the matter
Away to the window
I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters
And threw up the sash
The moon on the breast
Of the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre of midday
To object below
When what to my wandering eyes
Should appear
But a miniature sleigh
And eight tiny reindeer
With a little ol' driver
So lively and quick
I knew in a moment
It must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles
His courses they came
As he whistled and shouted
And called them by name
And quot, now dasher
Now dancer
Now prancer
Now vixen
On comet
On cupid
On doner
An' blitzen' and quot
To the top of the porch
To the top of the wall
Now dash away, dash away
Dash away all
As dry leaves
Before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle
Mount to the sky
So, up to the housetop
The courses they flew
With a sleigh full of toys
And St. Nicholas too
And then in a twinkling
I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing
Of each little hoof
As I drew in my head
And was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas
Came with a bound
He was dressed all in fur
From his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished
With ashes and soot
A bundle of toys
He had flung on his back
And he looked like a peddler
Just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled
His dimples how merry
His cheeks were like roses
His nose like a cherry
His drawl little mouth
Was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin
Was a white as the snow
The stump of his pipe
He held tight in his teeth
And the smoke it encircled his head
Like a wreath
He had a broad face
And a round little belly
That shook when he laughed
Like a bowl full of jelly
He was chubby and plump
A right jolly old elf
I laughed when I saw him
In spite of myself
A wink of his eye
And a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know
I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word
But went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings
Then turned with a jerk
An' laying a finger
Along side his nose
An' giving a nod
Up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh
To his team gave a whistle
An' away they all flew
Like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
And quot, Happy Christmas to all
And to all a goodnight and quot
Hm
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
The stockings all hung
By the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Soon would be there
The children were nestled
All safe in their beds
While visions of sugarplums
Danced in their heads
And mom in her kerchief
And I in my cap
Had just settled down
For a long winter's nap
When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed
To see what was the matter
Away to the window
I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters
And threw up the sash
The moon on the breast
Of the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre of midday
To object below
When what to my wandering eyes
Should appear
But a miniature sleigh
And eight tiny reindeer
With a little ol' driver
So lively and quick
I knew in a moment
It must be St. Nick
More rapid than eagles
His courses they came
As he whistled and shouted
And called them by name
And quot, now dasher
Now dancer
Now prancer
Now vixen
On comet
On cupid
On doner
An' blitzen' and quot
To the top of the porch
To the top of the wall
Now dash away, dash away
Dash away all
As dry leaves
Before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle
Mount to the sky
So, up to the housetop
The courses they flew
With a sleigh full of toys
And St. Nicholas too
And then in a twinkling
I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing
Of each little hoof
As I drew in my head
And was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas
Came with a bound
He was dressed all in fur
From his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished
With ashes and soot
A bundle of toys
He had flung on his back
And he looked like a peddler
Just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled
His dimples how merry
His cheeks were like roses
His nose like a cherry
His drawl little mouth
Was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin
Was a white as the snow
The stump of his pipe
He held tight in his teeth
And the smoke it encircled his head
Like a wreath
He had a broad face
And a round little belly
That shook when he laughed
Like a bowl full of jelly
He was chubby and plump
A right jolly old elf
I laughed when I saw him
In spite of myself
A wink of his eye
And a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know
I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word
But went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings
Then turned with a jerk
An' laying a finger
Along side his nose
An' giving a nod
Up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh
To his team gave a whistle
An' away they all flew
Like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
And quot, Happy Christmas to all
And to all a goodnight and quot
Hm
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
'Twas the Night Before Christmas Lyrics as written by Michael Edward Utley Jimmy Buffett
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
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