You know the tune. It’s unavoidable once December hits. You’re in a grocery store, and suddenly that "Fa-la-la-la-la" starts drilling into your skull. But honestly, if you actually sit down and look at the deck the halls lyrics, they are kind of weird. Don we now our gay apparel? Troll the ancient Yuletide carol? It sounds like a strange fever dream of Victorian aesthetics and medieval partying.
Most people just mumble through the verses until they get to the "Fa-la-las" because, let’s be real, that’s the part everyone knows. But the history of this song isn't just some dusty relic. It’s a survivor. It’s a Welsh winter carol that managed to ditch its original meaning, cross the ocean, and become the quintessential American Christmas anthem.
The Welsh roots you probably didn't know about
Before it was a Christmas staple, this song was "Nos Galan." That translates to "New Year's Eve." It wasn't even originally about Christmas. The melody is a traditional Welsh dance tune dating back to at least the 1700s, though some music historians think the tune is much older.
The original Welsh words had nothing to do with boughs of holly. Instead, they were about a cold winter night, a warm hearth, and—surprise, surprise—drinking. Welsh harpers would play this at winter gatherings. It was a "canu penillion" style of music where singers would improvise verses over the harp melody. If you messed up the rhythm, you were out. It was basically an 18th-century rap battle but with more wool sweaters and harps.
The transition from a Welsh folk tune to the deck the halls lyrics we recognize today happened in the 19th century. Thomas Oliphant, a Scottish musician, wrote the first English version in 1862. He was the one who decided we should "don our gay apparel." Back then, "gay" just meant bright, festive, and cheerful. He wasn't trying to be edgy; he was just trying to describe the vibe of a Victorian Christmas party where everyone wore their best waistcoats.
Let’s talk about that "Troll" line
"Troll the ancient Yuletide carol."
If you say that today, people think of internet commenters or mountain monsters under bridges. But in the context of the deck the halls lyrics, "troll" comes from the Middle English word "trollen," which means to sing in a full, rolling voice. It’s related to "tolling" a bell. It basically means to sing it loud and proud.
Then there’s the "merry measure."
"Sing we joyous, all together / Heedless of the wind and weather / Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la / Fill the mead-cup, drain the barrel / Troll the ancient Yuletide carol."
Wait, did you catch that? The "drain the barrel" part? Modern versions often sanitize this. You’ll hear "Follow me in merry measure" instead of the drinking references. Thomas Oliphant’s original English lyrics were much more focused on the party. He lived in a time when Christmas was becoming "domesticated" by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, but the old-school, boozy roots of the holiday still leaked into the music.
Why the "Fa-la-la" actually matters
It’s not just filler. The "Fa-la-la" sections are a leftover from the madrigal style of the Renaissance. It’s called a "nonsense refrain." These were used in dance music so the singer could take a breath or because the rhythm was more important than the message.
In "Deck the Halls," the refrain acts as a percussion instrument. It drives the song forward. Without it, the song would just be a weird poem about interior decorating. The "Fa-la-la" is what makes it catchy enough to survive for 200 years. It’s the hook.
The lyrics as we mostly sing them today:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la!
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la!
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la!
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
The evolution of the "Gay Apparel" controversy
It’s impossible to discuss the deck the halls lyrics in the 21st century without mentioning the linguistic shift of the word "gay." For some, it’s a point of humor. For others, it’s a point of unnecessary censorship. There have been instances where schools or choirs have changed the word to "bright" to avoid giggles from kids.
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But here’s the thing: changing it usually ruins the meter of the song. "Don we now our bright apparel" just doesn't hit the same way. Most musicologists and linguists argue for keeping the original. Language evolves, sure, but part of the charm of Christmas carols is their role as a time capsule. When we sing these words, we’re using a vocabulary that connects us to the 1860s. It’s a bit of living history.
The "Blazing Yule" and Pagan echoes
The song mentions a "blazing Yule." This isn't just a fancy word for Christmas. Yule was a pre-Christian winter festival observed by Germanic peoples. It involved massive bonfires, which were meant to encourage the sun to come back during the darkest days of the year.
By the time these lyrics were popularized, Yule had been fully absorbed into Christmas, but the imagery remained. "Decking the halls with boughs of holly" is another carryover. Holly was believed to ward off evil spirits and witches. It stayed green all winter, which seemed like a miracle to people living in 500 AD. When you sing these lyrics, you’re basically reciting a mashup of Welsh folk music, Victorian poetry, and ancient Pagan superstition.
How to actually sing this without sounding like a robot
If you’re performing this or leading a sing-along, don’t overthink it. The song is a "fast" carol. The biggest mistake people make is singing it too slowly. It’s supposed to be breathless.
Also, pay attention to the "strike the harp" line. In the original Welsh context, the harp was the heartbeat of the song. If you’re playing guitar or piano, try to mimic that sharp, plucking rhythm. It gives the song back its "Nos Galan" energy.
Actionable insights for your next holiday gathering
If you want to be the person who actually knows what’s going on during the Christmas party, keep these facts in your back pocket:
- Check the version: If you see a version that says "Fill the mead-cup, drain the barrel," you’re looking at the more "honest" 19th-century translation by Oliphant.
- The "Fa-la-la" Count: There are exactly eight "las" in the first two lines of each verse, but the third line changes the rhythm to a "Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la" pattern. Most people mess this up and add an extra "la." Don't be that person.
- Pronunciation: "Yuletide" should be crisp. "Apparel" should rhyme perfectly with "carol." If you’re singing "care-ull" and "ap-par-ull," you’re doing it right.
The deck the halls lyrics aren't just a list of decorations. They’re a transition. They mark the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. That’s why the last verse is the most important: "Fast away the old year passes... Hail the new, ye lads and lasses." It’s a song about survival and looking forward.
To get the most out of your holiday singing, try looking up a recording of "Nos Galan" on YouTube. Hearing the original Welsh melody played on a traditional triple harp will completely change how you hear the standard English version. It turns a "corny" Christmas song back into the rugged, hearth-side folk tune it was always meant to be.