“The Christmas Song” (sometimes know as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” or “Merry Christmas to You”) was written by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé in 1945 and has become a classic Christmas song since Nat King Cole’s 1946 recording.
It has also been performed by Bing Crosby, Buddy Holly, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, The Jackson 5, Bob Dylan, Pentatonix and many others!
It’s quite an easy one to play due to the slow pace of the melody, though due to the low B’s in the one, certain instruments may feel more comfortable shifting the notes up a few semitones. Happy practice 🙂
C – ^C B – A G F E-E E
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
C A G – F E D C
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
C – C D-D C-D E G A B
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
A G# G# Bb G# G-F-G
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
G – F – E – D C
Everybody knows
^C B – A G F E – E – E
A turkey and some mistletoe
C A G F E – D C
Help to make the season bright
C-C D C D E G A-B
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
A G E A G F .B-C
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
C .B C Bb-A G F# G
They know that Santa’s on his way
C .B – C Bb A B
He’s loaded lots of toys
A B – A G F G
And goodies on his sleigh
C .B-C G# – G G# G F-D# F
And every mother’s child is gonna spy
D# F D# D-D D – D D D D D
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
E C ^C B-A-G F E – E E
And so I’m offering this simple phrase
E C A G F E – D – C
To kids from one to ninety-two
.B – C .B C D C – D E
Although it’s been said many times
G – A B
Many ways…
^C – A G – C D C
“Merry Christmas to you”