Song 15 in The Christmas Songbook

Up on the Housetop

Also known as: Santa Claus, Up on the House-Top

Every recording starts with four clicks to set the speed. Start with the slow one. Tap ▶ to play.

Piano

For The Christmas Songbook (piano edition).

Slow (70% speed) (0:57)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:41)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:41)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

For The Christmas Songbook (ukulele edition).

Slow (70% speed) (0:57)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:40)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:40)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

For The Christmas Songbook (guitar edition).

Slow (70% speed) (0:57)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:40)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:40)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

For The Christmas Songbook (kalimba edition).

Slow (70% speed) (0:57)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:41)
The speed printed on the page.

For The Christmas Songbook (recorder edition).

Slow (70% speed) (0:57)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:41)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:41)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

Up on the housetop reindeer pause, Out jumps good old Santa Claus,
Down thro' the chimney with lots of toys, All for the little ones, Christmas joys.
Ho, ho, ho! who wouldn't go! Ho, ho, ho! who wouldn't go!
Up on the housetop, click, click, click, Down thro' the chimney with good Saint Nick.
First comes the stocking of little Nell; Oh, dear Santa, fill it well;
Give her a dollie that laughs and crys— One that will open and shut her eyes.
Next comes the stocking of little Will; Oh, just see what a glorious fill!
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks, Also a ball and a whip that cracks.

Music: Benjamin Russel Hanby (1833–1867)
Words: Benjamin Russel Hanby (1833–1867); familiar revised wording anonymous (in print by 1923)
First published: Written 1864; published 1866 as "Santa Claus" (Root & Cady, Chapel Gems / Our Song Birds); familiar form in The Golden Book of Favorite Songs (1923)
Copyright: Public domain in the US, UK and EU. The arrangement and recordings belong to the book.