Here are the lyrics to, and the story behind, 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'. This popular and cheerful English Christmas carol originated in the 16th century, and has since become a much-loved holiday classic. Its lively melody and festive lyrics help to spread holiday cheer and goodwill!
Who composed and wrote 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'?
Did you know the very popular Christmas song 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' originated in the West Country? We don't know exactly who wrote it, but it is thought to date back to the 16th or 17th centuries.
Its now very familiar tune is a bit more recent, though. That tune was composed in the English city of Bristol (home to the BBC Music Magazine team!) almost a century ago. Composer, conductor, organist and Bristolian Arthur Warrell arranged 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' to a new tune in 1935 for a December concert and it was published the same year as 'A Merry Christmas: West Country traditional song'.
'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' lyrics
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
And bring some out here
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Then bring some out here
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
And bring some out here
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
So bring some out here
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
So bring some out here
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
So bring some out here
And we won't go until we got some
And we won't go until we got some
And we won't go until we got some
So bring some out here
And we won't go until we got some
And we won't go until we got some
And we won't go until we got some
So bring some out here
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year