All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

Despite her most recent performance of this song that has gone viral from a leaked recording of her less-than-perfect vocals, I have always loved this song and in fact, Mariah Carey's entire Merry Christmas album. This is also one of my favorite Christmas songs to perform. Every year, starting with 8th grade Honors Choir, we would put together a Christmas choral show and several of the students would get to perform their own solo. This was always the one I chose- even up through high school. Last year at the annual performance of Christmas on Broadway at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center in Huntingdon,TN, I got the opportunity to perform it with some fellow musicians in the style of Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show featuring The Roots; instead of a band, they used things like toy xylophones, bongo drums and kazoos. It was so much fun! I think everyone can agree that this song's fun, upbeat, tempo and lighthearted lyrics make it one of the best Christmas party songs of all time. Down below is both the original version and The Roots version! Enjoy!



Here is the original music video: (so 1994...)

Lyrics

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you, you yeah.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
And I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.

I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas Day.

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
You baby.

Oh, I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
And I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe.

I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click.

'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Baby all I want for Christmas is you,
You Baby.

Oh, all the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air.

And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa, won't you bring me the one I really need?
Won't you please bring my baby to me?

Oh, I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door.

Oh, I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is
You, You baby.

All I want for Christmas is you, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, baby.

Songwriters
AFANASIEFF, WALTER / CAREY, MARIAH