You know the drill. It’s December, the tree is up, and you’re humming that catchy little tune about a kid whispering secrets into Santa’s ear. Most of us grew up singing Jolly Old St Nicholas lyrics without a second thought. But if you actually sit down and look at the history of those words, things get weird. It’s one of those songs that everyone knows, yet almost nobody can agree on who actually wrote it or how the verses are supposed to end.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess.
Most people assume it’s just another anonymous "traditional" carol from the 1800s. While it definitely feels that way, the song actually has a paper trail that leads back to a poem titled "Lilly’s Secret." It was written by Emily Huntington Miller and published in a kids’ magazine called The Little Corporal back in 1865. But wait—if you ask a music historian, they might point to Benjamin Hanby, the guy who wrote "Up on the Housetop."
The confusion is real.
The Mystery of the Missing Author
So, who really wrote the Jolly Old St Nicholas lyrics? If we're being pedantic, Emily Huntington Miller has the strongest claim to the original text. Her 1865 poem is almost word-for-word what we sing today. However, the music is a different story. Some folks attribute the tune to James R. Murray, who allegedly set Miller's poem to music around 1874.
Then there’s the John Piersol McCaskey theory. McCaskey was a big-shot song editor who published the Franklin Square Song Collection in 1881. His family claimed he wrote the song in 1867, and they even pointed out that "Johnny" in the lyrics was his own son. The problem? McCaskey never actually put his own name on the song in his books.
It's kinda like that friend who tells a great joke and then lets someone else take the credit because they can't be bothered to argue.
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Why the Lyrics Keep Changing
Have you ever noticed that the kids in the song seem to change every time a new artist covers it? In the "original" versions, we usually meet three kids:
- Johnny, who wants skates.
- Susy, who wants a dolly.
- Nellie, who wants a storybook.
But then you listen to a version from the 1950s and suddenly Nellie wants a "picture book" that is "yellow, blue, and red." Or Susy wants a sled instead of a doll. Even The Chipmunks got in on the action, swapping out the names for Alvin, Simon, and Theodore.
The most controversial line, though, is the ending of the third verse. In many old versions, the narrator says, "As for me, my little brain isn’t very bright; choose for me, dear Santa Claus, what you think is right."
Ouch.
Modern versions usually swap that out for something less self-deprecating, like "As for me, I'll leave to you, what to give the rest." It’s a fascinating look at how our social standards for "kid-friendly" lyrics have shifted over a century.
Jolly Old St Nicholas Lyrics: The Standard Version
If you're planning on singing this at a holiday party and don't want to look like you're making it up as you go, here is the version that most people consider the "gold standard."
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Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul,
What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon;
Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
Tell me if you can.
When the clock is striking twelve,
When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black,
With your pack you'll creep;
All the stockings you will find,
Hanging in a row;
Mine will be the shortest one,
You'll be sure to know.
Johnny wants a pair of skates,
Susy wants a dolly;
Nellie wants a story book,
She thinks dolls are folly;
As for me, my little brain
Isn't very bright;
Choose for me, dear Santa Claus,
What you think is right.
The Jingle Bells Connection
Here is a weird fact for your next trivia night: the melody we use for Jolly Old St Nicholas lyrics is often attributed to James Lord Pierpont. Does that name sound familiar? It should. He’s the guy who wrote "Jingle Bells."
While he didn't write "Jolly Old St Nick" specifically, the chord progressions and the simple, repetitive four-note patterns are so similar that many musicologists believe the tunes were heavily "borrowed" from his style. Some arrangements even sneak in bits of Pachelbel’s Canon because the harmonic structure fits perfectly.
Basically, the song is a musical Frankenstein.
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The "Nellie" Debate: Story Books vs. Sleds
There is a surprisingly heated debate in choral circles about Nellie. In Miller’s original "Lilly's Secret," the character Nelly wants a book because she thinks dolls are "folly." It was a bit of a progressive take for 1865—a girl who preferred reading over traditional "girl toys."
Later versions, especially those from the mid-20th century, often changed this. Ray Conniff’s famous version turned it into a picture book of colors. It’s a small change, but it loses that Victorian-era sass that made the original poem interesting.
If you want to stay true to the history, stick with the "folly" line. It gives Nellie some actual personality.
Actionable Insights for Your Holiday Playlist
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of traditional carols or just want the best version of this song for your 2026 holiday party, here’s what you should do:
- Listen to the Ray Conniff version if you want that classic, mid-century "Wall of Sound" feel. It’s the version most people recognize from the radio.
- Check out George Winston’s "December" album for a beautiful piano arrangement that highlights the song's surprisingly elegant melody.
- Compare the lyrics to "Up on the Housetop." Since both songs were popular around the same time and involve Santa coming down the chimney, people have been mixing them up for over 150 years.
- Look for the 1881 McCaskey publication if you're a history nerd. Seeing the original typesetting helps you appreciate how much of our "modern" Christmas was actually built by Victorian-era editors.
The Jolly Old St Nicholas lyrics might be a bit of a historical puzzle, but that’s part of the charm. It’s a song that survived by being simple, sweet, and just a little bit mysterious. Whether you’re singing about dollies or storybooks, you’re participating in a tradition that’s been evolving since the American Civil War.