Christmas in New York City is a magical time of year. From the bright lights decorating the streets to the gigantic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, the city sure knows how to get into the Christmas spirit.
It’s no wonder New York City is the inspiration for many Christmas songs. Here are 7 songs about Christmas in NYC to add to your holiday playlist:
“A New York Christmas” by Rob Thomas
LYRICS:
Call on your angels
Come down to the city
Crowd around the big tree
All you strangers who know me
Bring your compassion
Your understanding
Lord how we need it
On this New York City Christmas
Yeah I'm sending you a Merry New York Christmas
And a prayer for peace on earth within our time
And the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand them
Now more than ever
So call on your angels
Your beaten and broken
It's time that we mend them
So they don't fade with the season
Let our mercy be the gifts we lay
From Brooklyn to Broadway
Celebrate each and every day
Of this New York City Christmas
Yeah I'm sending you a Merry New York Christmas
And a prayer for peace on earth within our time
And the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand them
Now more than ever
Merry New York Christmas
Call on your angels
Come down to the city
Lets crowd around the big tree
All you strangers who know me
Bring your compassion
Bring your forgiveness
Lord how we need it
On this New York City Christmas
Yeah I'm sending you a Merry New York Christmas
And a prayer for peace on earth, it's not too late
And the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand them
We understand
Now more than ever
Merry New York Christmas
It's a New York City Christmas
Merry New York Christmas
“Christmas on Riverside Drive” by Kid Creole
LYRICS:
That old San Bernardino
Was begging me to stay
But I'm sticking to the pattern
I'll take Manhattan
At this time of the year
She nearly trapped me
With her sunshine
But you see, I broke away
(hip hip hooray)
Chorus:
Step on it driver, do it
Take me where my sweetheart is
'Cause there's nothing as sublime
As Christmas on Riverside Drive
Take me 'long old Broadway
That sophisticated tramp
And pull it to a stop
When you hear the doorman shout
"It's good to have you back"
And when I play upon her doorbell
Jack Frost will run and hide
(oh me oh my)
(repeat chorus)
I will spend the holiday
roasting chestnuts
and drinking syrup from a wooden cane
We will even take a stray
down the Hudson
every person's waterway
Taking a sleigh ride (oo-wah)
Taking a sleigh ride (giddy-up-a)(oo-wah)
Taking a sleigh ride
Taking a sleigh ride
New York City winter escape
will blow your troubles away
(repeat chorus)
Step on it, driver
“Christmas in Harlem” by Kanye West and CyHi Da Prynce and Teyana Taylor
LYRICS:
[Teyana Taylor - Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
right after autumn falls
soaking it all in
then we go hit the mall
even though we ain't balling
feels like we bought it all
the mistletoe's right here
come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Kanye West - Verse 1]
Merry Christmas to all, and all a good night
huh, now we all living the good life
yeah, though it's forty below the wind chill
and we wiping snow up off the windshield
it's still, wonderful night to be alive, baby
and I'm, so happy I'm with my baby
and we a lil late with the Christmas gifts
rushing for the mall, don't trip, you know I drive crazy
the streets lit up, it feel like Christmas officially
told her that "You the star at the top of my Christmas tree"
my only question is, "Where my presents?"
she said, "Shhh," she got a gift for me that ain't for the kids to see
well, I like the way you think, mami
now pour some more eggnog in you drink, mami
got a surprise for you that ain't on your Christmas list-es
gave her the hot chocolate, she said "It's D-ricious"
[Teyana Taylor - Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
right after autumn falls
soaking it all in
then we go hit the mall (I'm like Bad Santa, though)
even though we ain't balling (You might have to sit on my lap)
feels like we bought it all (Ho, ho, ho)
the mistletoe's right here
come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Cyhi the Prince]
First, I wanted to say Merry Christmas to y'all
for Santa Claus, so bake a turkey, burn a few logs
I be there soon, on my sled, me and Rudolph
thugs think I'm a Blood 'cause I won't take this red suit off
ha, I swear I got the freshest wardrobe
I let my beard grow 'cause it's cold in the North Pole
her voice slow 'cause "I always got a sore throat"
okay, stop it, no more jokes
you never see me 'cause I shop when the stores close
and my sleigh go faster than the Porsche go
ha, I got nine reindeers
that's Dancer, that's Prancer on the fourth flo'
that's Comet, that's Cupid, that's Vixen
that's Donner, that's Dasher, that's Blitzen
happy kwanzaa, and for the ones that aren't Christian
everybody gets gifts as long as I'm living
so look forward to having
[Teyana Taylor - Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
right after autumn falls
soaking it all in
then we go hit the mall
even though we ain't balling
feels like we bought it all
the mistletoe's right here
come give a kiss to Santa Claus
All the flashing lights up on a tree
the house lit up nice
with your family's where you wanna be
here on Christmas night
when you wake up and you see the gifts
don't that make you feel good?
so since we all snowed in in Harlem
let's have Christmas in the hoo-hood
All of the flashing lights
yeah, when they shine so bright
always for you and me
baby, you're Christmas Eve
if you like what you see me
won't you come sit on my knee?
tell me everything that you want
cause, baby, I'm your Santa Claus
Christmas in Harlem
right after autumn falls
soaking it all in
then we go hit the mall
even though we ain't balling
feels like we bought it all
the mistletoe's right here
come give a kiss to Santa Claus
[Kanye West]
I peeped it, you know what?
need some reindeer for this one
I wanna hear sleigh bells on this one
got a new suit on this one
the newborn look too cute for this one
yeah, the new winter coat for this one
yeah, gotta let it snow on this one
huh, all the Christmas cheer for this one
the whole family up in here on this one
Yeah
[Teyana Taylor - Chorus]
Christmas in Harlem
Right after autumn falls
Soaking it all in
Then we gon' hit the mall
Even though we ain't balling
Feels like we bought it all
The mistletoe's right here
Come give a kiss to Santa Claus
(Au, au, au, au, au…)
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“A New York Christmas” by Rob Thomas
LYRICS:
It was December 24th on Hollis Ave after dark
When I see a man chilling with his dog in the park
I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear
Looked at his dog, oh my God, an illin' reindeer
But then I was illin' because the man had a beard
And a bag full of goodies, 12 o'clock had neared
So I turned my head a second and the man had gone
But he must have dropped his wallet smack down on the lawn
I picket the wallet up then I took a pause
Took out the license and it cold said "Santa Claus"
A million dollars in it, cold hundreds of G's
Enough to buy a boat and matching car with ease
But I'd never steal from Santa, cause that ain't right
So I was going home to mail it back to him that night
But when I got home I bugged, cause under the tree
Was a letter from Santa and the dough's for me
It's Christmas time in Hollis Queens
Mom's cooking chicken and collard greens
Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese
And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees
Decorate the house with lights at night
Snow's on the ground, snow white so bright
In the fireplace is the yule log
Beneath the mistle toe as we drink egg nog
The rhymes that you hear are the rhymes of Darryl's
But each and every year we bust Chrsitmas carols
Rhymes so loud and proud you hear it
It's Christmas time and we got the spirit
Jack Frost chillin, the orchids out
And that's what Christmas is all about
The time is now, the place is here
And the whole wide world is filled with cheer
My name's D. M. C. With the mic in my hand
And I'm chilling and coolin' just like a snowman
So open your eyes, lend us an ear
We want to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
“It’s Christmas in New York” by Loa Falkman
LYRICS:
Still searching for it :)
“Christmas in New York” by Joe
LYRICS:
Walking down 5th Avenue
The lights are bright, faces glowing
Windows dressed up with toy trains
A colorful display
Snowflakes fallin'
New York's callin'
Land, sea or air
I just can't wait to be there for
Christmas in New York, New York
Rockettes dance at Radio City
Kick so high, they're so pretty
Ice-skating at Rockefeller
Drinking eggnog together
Snowflakes fallin'
New York's callin'
Land, sea or air
I just can't wait to be there for
Christmas in New York, New York
Sleigh rides through Central Park
Snowmen captured in art
Children gazed with fascination
They just can't wait 'til it's dark
Looking in through frosted windows
Finally here altogether
Singing songs of Christmas joy
With frolicking winter weather
Snowflakes fallin'
New York's callin'
Land, sea or air
I just can't wait to be there for
Christmas in New York, New York...
“Fairytale Of New York” by Pogues
LYRICS: It was christmas eve babe In the drunk tank An old man said to me: won't see another one And then they sang a song The rare old mountain dew I turned my face away and dreamed about you Got on a lucky one Came in eighteen to one I've got a feeling This year's for me and you So happy christmas I love you baby I can see a better time Where all our dreams come true. They got cars big as bars They got rivers of gold But the wind goes right through you It's no place for the old When you first took my hand on a cold christmas eve You promised me broadway was waiting for me You were handsome you were pretty Queen of new york city when the band finished playing they yelled out for more Sinatra was swinging all the drunks they were singing We kissed on a corner Then danced through the night. And the boys from the nypd choir were singing Galway Bay And the bells were ringing out for christmas day. You're a bum you're a punk You're an old s*** on junk Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed You scumbag you maggot You cheap lousy faggot Happy christmas your arse I pray god it's our last. And the boys of the nypd choir's still singing Galway Bay And the bells were ringing out For christmas day. I could have been someone Well so could anyone You took my dreams from me When I first found you I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Can't make it out alone I've built my dreams around you And the boys of the nypd choir's still singing Galway Bay And the bells are ringing out For christmas day.