About the song
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” written by Johnny Marks and immortalized by Brenda Lee in 1958, has become a perennial holiday favorite celebrated for its infectious energy and timeless appeal. Originally recorded when Lee was just 13 years old, the song blends rockabilly flair with festive cheer, creating a unique sound that has resonated with generations of listeners.
Johnny Marks, renowned for his Christmas classics like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” penned “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” to capture the joy and spirit of the holiday season in a lively, upbeat manner. Despite Lee’s youthful age at the time of recording, her mature voice and confident delivery brought Marks’ composition to life in a way that immediately struck a chord with audiences.
The recording session for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” featured a stellar lineup of Nashville session musicians, including Hank Garland and Harold Bradley on guitars, Floyd Cramer on piano, Boots Randolph on saxophone, Bob Moore on double bass, and Buddy Harman on drums. Their collective talent infused the song with a vibrant energy and rockabilly groove that became its hallmark.
Over the decades, Brenda Lee’s rendition of the song has remained immensely popular, achieving significant milestones such as selling over 15 million copies worldwide by its 50th anniversary in 2008. In 2019, its enduring appeal was further recognized when the Recording Academy inducted Lee’s recording into the Grammy Hall of Fame, cementing its status as a timeless Christmas classic.
In a remarkable testament to its lasting popularity, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” made headlines once again in late 2023 when it topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking Brenda Lee’s third number-one single and setting new records. At age 78, Lee became the oldest artist to achieve this feat, a record she later surpassed at age 79, underscoring the song’s enduring relevance and her enduring impact on music history.
With its jubilant melody, spirited lyrics, and Brenda Lee’s charismatic performance, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” continues to brighten holiday celebrations around the world, embodying the festive spirit and joyful traditions of Christmas for audiences young and old alike.
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Lyrics
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie
And we’ll do some caroling
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin’ merrily
In the new old-fashioned way
Oh, you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin’ merrily
In the new old-fashioned way