Thought to be the second oldest secular Christmas song (seconded only to 1857’s Jingle Bells, which first began its life as a Thanksgiving song), Up On The Roof Top was written by in 1864. It is widely considered to be the first Christmas song to focus exclusively on Santa Claus, coming just 35 years after Clement C. Moore’s poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas.”

Gene Autry performing Up On The Rooftop / Housetop.

Over the years, Up On The Rooftop has been recorded by an array of artists. The 1950s and 60s saw versions by Lawrence Welk, The King Sisters, Eddie Arnold and Alvin and the Chipmunks. The 1970s saw a basketball-themed version on the Jackson 5 Christmas Album. The song took a break for awhile before coming back strong I the late 1990s with covers by Jimmy Buffet, Reba McEntire, and George Strait. The 2005 Kimberley Locke cover broke the Billboard record for the largest leap into the Top 5 in Billboard history, going from 32 to 5 in just one week. But in the song’s long history, it’s the 1953 version by Gene Autry that remains the most famous.

Lyrics

Up on the rooftop/housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones
Christmas joys

Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Up on the rooftop
Click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with
Good Saint Nick

First comes the stocking
Of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa
Fill it well
Give her a dolly
That laughs and cries
One that will open
And shut her eyes

Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Up on the rooftop
Click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with
Good Saint Nick

Next comes the stocking
Of little Will
Oh, just see what
A glorious fill
Here is a hammer
And lots of tacks
Also a ball
And a whip that cracks

Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn't go!
Up on the rooftop
Click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with
Good Saint Nick