Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" is a Christmas song that originated with a poem by Emily Huntington Miller (1833–1913), published as "Lilly's Secret" in The Little Corporal Magazine in December 1865.

[1][2][3][4] Some people have also attributed the lyrics to John Piersol McCaskey[5][6]—a song editor and publisher, among other things, at the time.

[8] Notable recordings include those by Ray Smith in 1949, Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers in 1949, Chet Atkins in 1961, Eddy Arnold in 1962, Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1963, Andy Williams in 1995, Anne Murray in 2001, and Carole King in 2017.

[11][12] This is the original published song in 1881: In the Ray Conniff version as part of a medley with The Little Drummer Boy; the list of wishes is changed to "Johnny wants a pair of skates, Susy wants a sled, Nellie wants a picture book, yellow, blue and red."

The final lyrics are also changed as a child named Billy is mentioned and that Santa should give him a drum cause "he likes that best."

A 19th Century printing of the standard words and music of this song, appearing in Franklin Square Song Collection, No. 1 , which was published in 1881 by John Piersol McCaskey .