The Christmas Song (commonly subtitled with "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or "Merry Christmas to You") is a Christmas song commonly associated with Nat King Cole. Multiple versions have been recorded by Nat King Cole since 1946 (under the name "King Cole Trio"), with the 1961 recording the most commonly heard version on the radio during the holiday season.
Other well known musicians who have recorded this song include Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and Christina Aguilera
Usage on MWC[]
In the Season 2 episode, "You Better Watch Out", after Santa Claus' body is taken away and the Lakeside Mall representative decides to rip up the check to bribe the Bundys, the rest of the family remains angry at Al. Suddenly, a bag falls in the backyard and they find hundreds of gift certificates to the mall, making the family happy. The song begins to play after they happily run outside to spend the money.
In the season 4 episode, "It's a Bundyful Life (Part I)" Al references the song by saying "I guess that's what they mean when they say 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire'" after the rest of the family mock him.
In the season 8 episode, "The Worst Noel", after Bud and Kelly accidentally destroy the jukebox they were going to give their parents for Christmas, the only thing that was salvageable was an album of "The Christmas Song". Al and Peggy are happy to receive it and the family sit together to listen to it. Though the song eventually begins to skip from the damage.
Trivia[]
- After Al and Peggy receive the album from the kids, Peggy says "It's been so long since I've heard Nat without Natalie". This is in reference to Nat King Cole's daughter, Natalie Cole, who at the time, recorded a virtual duet version of his song "Unforgettable" with him in 1991, some 25 years after his death. Although she did record a cover version of "The Christmas Song" in 1994, it was not a duet version.
Lyrics[]
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you