You know that feeling when a song starts and you immediately smell pine needles and cold air? That's the power of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1971 classic. People search for this is xmas lyrics every December, but they aren't just looking for the words to sing along at a party. They’re looking for that specific, bittersweet gut-punch that only a 50-year-old protest song can deliver. It’s "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," but everyone just calls it "This Is Xmas" because of that iconic opening line.
Honestly, it’s a weird song.
It starts with a whisper. You’ve probably missed it if you weren't wearing headphones. Yoko whispers "Happy Christmas, Kyoko," and John whispers "Happy Christmas, Julian." It’s personal. It’s a message to their children from previous marriages. Before the peace-on-earth stuff kicks in, it’s a song about fractured families trying to find a moment of grace.
The Message Behind This Is Xmas Lyrics
The core of the song is a direct challenge. It isn't just about Santa or reindeer. Lennon was never one for fluff. When he writes, "So this is Christmas / And what have you done?" he’s literally pointing a finger at the listener. It’s uncomfortable. It’s meant to be.
1971 was a heavy year. The Vietnam War was dragging on. People were tired. Lennon and Ono had already spent years doing "Bed-ins for Peace" and putting up "War Is Over!" billboards in major cities like New York, Tokyo, and London. The song was the sonic version of those billboards.
The structure is fascinating because it uses a traditional folk melody. If you’ve ever heard the old English ballad "Skewball," you’ll recognize the bones of the track. But Phil Spector—the producer who eventually went to prison but was undeniably a genius in the studio—turned it into a "Wall of Sound" masterpiece. He layered the Harlem Community Choir over acoustic guitars to create something that feels like a massive, swaying crowd.
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Why the "War Is Over" Refrain Matters
If you look at the this is xmas lyrics, the background vocals are doing a lot of the heavy lifting. While John sings about the "near and the dear ones" and the "old and the young," the choir is chanting "War is over, if you want it."
That "if you want it" is the most important part of the song. It’s the philosophy of "The Plastic Ono Band" in a nutshell: collective will creates reality. It’s optimistic, but also kind of cynical if you think about it. If the war isn't over, does that mean we just don't want it enough? It’s a heavy question to drop on someone who's just trying to eggnog their way through a Tuesday.
A Closer Look at the Verses
The song doesn't discriminate. That’s why it stays relevant.
- "For weak and for strong"
- "For rich and the poor ones"
- "The road is so long"
It’s an inclusive list that covers the entire human experience. Lennon wasn't writing for the elite; he was writing for the person stuck in traffic, the person who had a bad year, and the person who feels like the world is moving too fast.
Most Christmas songs are about looking back—nostalgia for a "white Christmas" or "chestnuts roasting." This one is about the present and the future. It’s about the "new year" and "no fear." It’s a call to action disguised as a carol.
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The Evolution of the Lyrics in Pop Culture
Since its release, everyone from Celine Dion to Miley Cyrus has covered it. Each version tries to capture that same blend of melancholy and hope. But most of them miss the grit of the original. There’s a certain rasp in Lennon’s voice that makes you believe he’s actually worried about the state of the world.
When you see the this is xmas lyrics printed on a card or a social media post today, they often strip away the political context. People treat it like a generic "peace on earth" sentiment. But remembering that this was a protest song makes it much more powerful. It wasn't written to be comfortable. It was written to make you think about your neighbor.
The Impact of the Harlem Community Choir
You can’t talk about these lyrics without talking about the sound of those kids singing. Spector recorded thirty children from the Harlem Community Choir on October 31, 1971. Think about that—they were recording a Christmas song on Halloween.
The innocence of their voices provides a sharp contrast to the weight of the lyrics. When they sing "War is over," it sounds like a promise. When John sings "What have you done?" it sounds like a reprimand. The tension between those two things is why the song hasn't aged a day. It still feels like it was written this morning.
Common Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people think the song is just called "War Is Over." Others get the "Kyoko" and "Julian" whispers confused, thinking they are saying "Merry Christmas" to each other.
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In reality, the song is a complex piece of marketing for peace. Lennon was a master of the "slogan." He knew that if he could get a simple, catchy phrase into a pop song, it would stay in people's heads forever. He was right.
Actionable Ways to Use These Lyrics Today
If you're looking up this is xmas lyrics for a project or just for your own curiosity, here are a few ways to engage with the song's actual meaning instead of just humming along:
- Read the original "War Is Over!" campaign history. Look at the posters Lennon and Ono put up in 1969. It gives the song a totally different vibe when you realize it was the culmination of a multi-year art project.
- Listen to the 2024 Ultimate Mixes. If you haven't heard the remastered versions, the clarity on the whispers at the beginning is haunting. You can actually hear the breaths between the words.
- Use the "What have you done?" prompt for reflection. Instead of a resolution, ask yourself what the song asks. It's a great way to look back on the year with a bit of honesty rather than just making a list of things you want to buy.
- Compare the "Skewball" melody. Go find a recording of "Skewball" (the folk song about a racehorse) and listen to it side-by-side with "Happy Xmas." It’s a masterclass in how to take a traditional melody and turn it into a global anthem.
The legacy of these lyrics isn't found in how many copies they sold or how many charts they topped. It’s found in the fact that every year, millions of people have to face that opening question: "And what have you done?" It’s a reminder that the holiday isn't just a finish line for the year; it's a chance to decide what the next one looks like.
The song ends with a simple "Happy Christmas," but it leaves the door wide open. It’s up to us to decide if the war is actually over.