Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (First Line) — Kids Christmas Piano Sheet Music, Free to Print

Where your hand goes

Find middle C: the white key just to the left of the two black keys nearest the middle of the piano. Put your right thumb on it and rest one finger on each white key going up, so your fingers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sit on C, D, E, F and G.

This piece uses 3 notes: C, D, E. In the music, the number above each note tells you the finger and the letter under it tells you the key. Your hand never has to move.

About this arrangement

The first line of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas uses just three keys: E, D and C, played by fingers 3, 2 and 1 with your thumb on middle C. Count four in every bar. “Jol-ly old Saint” is four one-count notes on E. “Nich-o-las” steps down to D, with a minim (two counts) on “las”. Then come four Cs and a long E on “way”, held for four counts. This is only the first line: after it the tune drops below middle C, out of this hand position.

Practice tip: The song is a secret whispered to Saint Nicholas, so play it softly first, as if you are whispering. Then play it again loudly. Listen for the little staircase: four Es, three Ds, four Cs.

The words

Jolly old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way!

A short history

The words began as a poem, “Lilly’s Secret”, by the American writer Emily Huntington Miller, printed in December 1865 in The Little Corporal, a magazine for children. A child whispers to Saint Nicholas what she hopes he will bring.

The music is generally believed to be by James Ramsey Murray, an American composer and music editor. It was first printed in 1874 in a school songbook, School Chimes, published by S. Brainard’s Sons. The words have sometimes been credited to Benjamin Hanby, who wrote Up on the Housetop in the same years.

It became a favourite in American schools and later on records, with versions by Eddy Arnold, Andy Williams and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Quick facts

Tune: James Ramsey Murray, 1874
Words: Emily Huntington Miller, 1865
Level: Kids (a handful of notes, right hand only)
Key: C position (right thumb on middle C)
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 4 bars
Tempo: Lightly, crotchet = 126
Hands: Right hand only: thumb on middle C, one finger for each key; the finger number is above every note and the letter name under it
Copyright: Public domain tune and words; arrangement by Digital Greenhouse, free for personal, church and classroom use

Questions and answers

What level is this arrangement of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (First Line)?

Kids. Very first Christmas tunes for children: just a handful of notes, all under the five fingers of the right hand, with the finger number above every note and the letter name underneath. Put your thumb on middle C and you can play them, even if you have never had a lesson. It is in C position, no sharps or flats, 4/4 time, 4 bars.

Is Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (First Line) out of copyright?

Yes. The tune is by James Ramsey Murray, 1874 and the words sung here are by Emily Huntington Miller, 1865, so both are in the public domain in Australia. Our piano arrangement is new and free for personal, church and classroom use.

Any tips for a first go?

The song is a secret whispered to Saint Nicholas, so play it softly first, as if you are whispering. Then play it again loudly. Listen for the little staircase: four Es, three Ds, four Cs.

Can I print it?

Yes. Press Print above the music to put this piece on its own pages, or choose Save as PDF as the printer for a file. It prints on A4 paper; if yours is US Letter, choose US Letter in the box beside Print.

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