It Wouldn’t Be Christmas (Without the Jews)

Christmastime is coming!
Do you have everything you need?
Gifts and paper, a tree and tinsel, 
Gingerbread on which to feed?

No matter how complete your list,
There may still be one thing you missed
I hope by now you have heard the news
That it wouldn't be Christmas without the Jews!
This is not a religious screed, or historical harangue,
But a reminder of all the Christmas songs you sang… that we wrote!

Everyone knows "Rudolph," and knows about his nose
But would they without Johnny Marks, do you suppose?
He wrote "Holly Jolly Christmas," and "Silver and Gold," you see
Also "Run, Run, Rudolph" and "Rockin" Around the Christmas Tree,"

"God Bless America," is not a Christmas song, as such,
But it was written by Irving Berlin, thank you very much.
But this is about his Christmas songs, so you must be informed
That he wrote "White Christmas" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"

Santa isn't Jewish, but some of his songwriters were;
"Santa Baby" was written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer,
That he sees you when you're sleeping is a fact of great renown
We know 'cause J. Fred Coots wrote "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Some Scrooges don't like Christmas, don't care for it an inch
For them Albert Hague wrote the tune for "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."
But the music of the holiday it filled Katherine Davis with such joy
She rum-pa-pummed the tune for "Little Drummer Boy"

Speaking of Christmas instruments, there are "Silver Bells"
And their song by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans is quite swell.
If there is Christmas music, there should be dancing divine
"The Christmas Waltz" was written by Sammy Cahn and his partner, Jule Styne

A waltz is in three-four signature, as Cahn and Styne would know,
So they had to name this song three times: "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!"
It doesn't matter how it snows, how softly or how hard,
It's all a "Winter Wonderland" - as composed by Felix Bernard .

"Baby. Please Come Home" for Christmas was written by carolers three:
Phil Spector,Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
Yes, "I'll be Home for Christmas" responded Walter Kent
"There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays," so Bob Allen and Al Stillman went!

Mitchell Parrish took a "Sleigh Ride" -- with sleigh bells ring-ting-ting-a-ling
When you rock to those jingle bells, "Jingle Bell Rock" you sing
That one was written by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe
(We've only got five more songs to go, and that's the truth!)

Mr. Meredith Wilson was a Jewish Music Man, 
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," said he to his band
It's beginning to sound like Christmas, too, thanks to Jewish song-makers
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" was written by Gloria Baker.

The one about "Chestnuts Roasting" was by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" for caroling that way
That one was by Edward Pola and George Wyle, for certain
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin

Christmas comes each year, you know, on December 25, 
And that's 25 songs you need to keep the season's spirit alive!
So when you sing those carols, be sure to spread the news…
That it wouldn't be Christmas without the Jews!