Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means to Me Lyrics
Released: 01 Jan 2013
Lyrics
Oh yeah
Candles burnin' low
Lots of mistletoe
Lots of snow and ice
Everywhere we go
Choirs singin' carols
Right outside my door
All these things and more
(All these things and more)
Whoa, that's what Christmas means to me my love
(That's what Christmas means to me my love)
Whoa, yeah
Ha ha, yeah
And ya know what I mean
I see your smilin' face
Like I never seen before
Even though I love ya madly
It seems I love you more
The little cards you'll give me
Will touch my heart for sure
All these things and more, darling
(All these things and more)
Whoa, that's what Chrstmas means to me my love
(That's what Christmas means to me my love)
Oh yeah, I
I feel like runnin' wild (runnin' wild)
As anxious as a little child
To greet you 'neath the mistletoe
Kiss you once and then some more
And wish you a Merry Christmas baby
(Wish you a Merry Christmas baby)
Whoa, and such happiness in the comin' year
Oh baby (happiness in the comin' year)
Let's deck the halls with holly
Sing sweet silent night
Fill the tree with angel hair
And pretty, pretty lights
Go to sleep and wake up
Just before daylight
And all these things and more, baby
(All these things and more)
Whoa, that's what Chrismas means to me my love
(That's what Christmas means to me my love)
Oh baby, baby
Yeah
(Candles burnin' low)
(Lots and lots of snow)
Alright
(Christmas bells are ringin')
(Christmas choirs singin')
Whoo
(Christmas mistletoe...)
Video
Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me (Tamla Records 1967)
Meaning & Inspiration
Stevie Wonder’s "What Christmas Means to Me," featured on the 2013 compilation album *The Christmas Collection: The Best of Stevie Wonder*, is far more than a seasonal tune; it’s a vibrant proclamation of joy centered on the profound personal and relational significance of the Christmas season. While the song paints a vivid picture of traditional Christmas imagery – the gentle flicker of candles, the abundance of mistletoe, the quiet beauty of snow, and the resonant sounds of carols – its true depth lies in how these external elements become conduits for an inner spiritual and emotional awakening. Wonder doesn't merely list festive decorations; he imbues them with a spiritual weight, suggesting that these familiar sights and sounds are not the end goal but rather the beautiful scaffolding for a deeper experience. The repeated refrain, "All these things and more, that's what Christmas means to me my love," powerfully emphasizes that the true meaning transcends the material and physical, pointing towards something more enduring and precious.
The heart of the song’s message, and its undeniable spiritual resonance, emerges in its focus on love and connection. The lines, "I see your smilin' face / Like I never seen before / Even though I love ya madly / It seems I love you more," speak to how the spirit of Christmas amplifies affection and deepens bonds. This sentiment beautifully echoes the foundational Christian message of love, exemplified by Jesus's birth. As the Apostle John wrote, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Wonder’s joyful anticipation, described as being "anxious as a little child / To greet you 'neath the mistletoe," mirrors the eager expectation and pure delight that the birth of Christ should inspire. This childlike wonder is a direct reflection of the awe and reverence that the first Christmas evoked, a feeling that can be found in passages like Luke 2:10-11, where the angel proclaims, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." The song’s closing verses, which call to "deck the halls with holly / Sing sweet silent night" and to cherish the quiet moments, evoke a sense of peace and gratitude. This peacefulness is not incidental; it’s the stillness that allows one to truly absorb the significance of Christ’s arrival. The quiet anticipation of waking up "just before daylight" can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual awakening, a readiness to embrace the light of the world, as described in John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Ultimately, "What Christmas Means to Me" is a testament to the transformative power of Christmas, not just as a holiday, but as an annual reminder of divine love and the profound joy found in human connection, all rooted in the miraculous birth of Jesus.