It starts with that brass. You know the one—those bright, punchy horns that sound like a physical manifestation of a "Welcome Home" banner. Then there’s the jingle bells, steady and shimmering, and finally, Donny’s voice. It’s smooth. It’s warm. Honestly, it feels like sitting next to a fireplace with a cup of something spiked.
But here is the thing: This Christmas by Donny Hathaway lyrics aren't just about the holidays. They’re a blueprint for a specific kind of Black joy that, back in 1970, wasn't really being represented in the mainstream "White Christmas" aesthetic. Donny wanted something that felt like his neighborhood. He succeeded.
Most people don't realize that this song was actually a bit of a "flop" initially. Well, maybe not a flop, but it didn't set the charts on fire in '70. It took decades of cookouts, family reunions, and radio programmers realizing it’s the perfect tempo to turn it into the "Black National Anthem of Christmas."
The Poetry in the Simplicity
If you look at the This Christmas by Donny Hathaway lyrics, they’re deceptively simple.
"Hang all the mistletoe / I'm gonna get to know you better / This Christmas"
That’s a bold start. It’s intimate. It’s not about Santa coming down a chimney or reindeer on a roof. It’s about two people. It’s about proximity. Donny wrote this with Nadine McKinnor, who was a songwriter in Chicago at the time. She actually wrote the bones of the song years earlier after being inspired by the festive atmosphere at the Chicago post office and the department store windows on State Street.
When Donny got a hold of it, he infused it with that gospel-trained soul that makes every "and this Christmas" feel like a promise. The way he sings about "fireside blazing bright" isn't a cliché when he does it. You believe the fire is actually hot. You believe he’s actually "carolling through the night."
There is a specific rhythm to the lines. "Presents and cards are here / My world is filled with cheer and you." It’s that "and you" that does the heavy lifting. The song acknowledges the stuff—the decorations, the gifts—but pivots instantly to the person standing in front of him. That’s why it’s a staple. It’s a love song disguised as a holiday jingle.
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Why the Lyrics Stand Out from the Holiday Crowd
Compare this to "Jingle Bells" or even "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting). Those are great, sure. But they feel like postcards. Donny’s track feels like a home movie.
Look at the second verse:
"Shake hands with friends today / Wish them hope and joy may always stay."
It’s communal. It’s about the neighborhood. In 1970, America was a mess. The Vietnam War was raging. The Civil Rights movement was in a painful transition period after the deaths of King and X. For a Black artist to release a song that was unapologetically happy, focused on the "extra special" nature of the season, was a quiet act of defiance. It was a claim on the holiday.
A lot of folks get the words wrong during karaoke, too. They’ll trip over the bridge or miss the subtle "Yes, it will be" ad-libs Donny throws in. His phrasing is what makes the This Christmas by Donny Hathaway lyrics so hard to cover perfectly. Plenty have tried—Chris Brown, Usher, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige—and while some are great, they usually miss the "pocket." That specific, laid-back-but-driving soul groove.
The Chicago Connection and Nadine McKinnor
We have to talk about Nadine. She’s the unsung hero here. She was working at the post office when she came up with the theme. She had these lyrics in a notebook. When she eventually got the chance to pitch them to Donny through a friend of a friend, he knew immediately.
He didn't just sing it; he co-wrote and produced it. He added that Latin-influenced percussion—the congas—which was a huge departure from the standard orchestral holiday pop of the era. It made the song danceable. You can’t really "two-step" to Bing Crosby. You can absolutely two-step to Donny Hathaway.
The line "And this Christmas will be / A very special Christmas for me" is repeated like a mantra. It’s optimistic. In the context of Donny’s life—which was tragically cut short and marked by struggles with severe mental health issues (he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia)—that optimism is even more poignant. Hearing him sing about a "special" time feels like a man clinging to the light.
Why the "This Christmas" Cover Phenomenon Exists
Every R&B singer, eventually, is required by law to cover this song. It’s the gatekeeper. If you can’t do Donny’s runs at the end, you haven't "arrived."
- The Chris Brown version: Brought the song to a Gen Z and Millennial audience. It’s punchier, more "pop," but keeps the spirit.
- The Temptations version: Added that Motown harmony layer that makes it feel even more like a family gathering.
- The Patti LaBelle version: Well, Patti does what Patti does. She takes it to church.
But if you go back to the original This Christmas by Donny Hathaway lyrics, there’s a restraint in Donny’s delivery that none of the covers quite catch. He isn't oversinging. He’s just... present.
The Technical Brilliance Nobody Talks About
Musically, the song is a masterpiece of arrangement. The horns were arranged by Donny himself. He was a powerhouse. A Howard University alum. A genius.
The way the lyrics sit on top of the bassline—played by Willie Weeks—is a lesson in funk. The bass is busy, but the lyrics stay airy. "The fireside is blazing bright / We're carolling through the night." The internal rhyme of "bright" and "night" is simple, sure, but the way it hits on the upbeat makes it feel sophisticated.
There’s also the "look" of the song. When you hear the words, you see the colors. You see the "mistletoe." You see the "presents and cards." It’s highly visual writing. It’s a sensory experience.
The Legacy of the "This Christmas" Lyrics
It’s weird to think that for about 20 years, this was strictly a "Black radio" song. It wasn't until the 90s and early 2000s that it started showing up in Target commercials and mainstream movies.
Now, it’s inescapable. And that’s a good thing.
The This Christmas by Donny Hathaway lyrics have become a universal shorthand for "the party has started." It’s the transition song. You play the slow stuff while people are eating, but when you want people to start moving? You put on Donny.
The song ends with a series of ad-libs: "Merry Christmas," "Shake a hand, shake a hand," "Talkin' 'bout This Christmas." It feels like the song doesn't actually end; it just fades out because the party is moving to another room.
How to Truly Appreciate the Song This Year
Don’t just let it play in the background while you’re arguing with your cousin about politics. Actually listen to the vocal layering.
- Listen for the "Yes it will be" during the second chorus. Donny is answering his own lyric. It’s a call-and-response with himself.
- Focus on the congas. Most holiday songs rely on sleigh bells. Donny uses hand drums. It changes the entire "temperature" of the track.
- Read the lyrics as a poem. Ignore the music for a second. It’s a poem about anticipation. It’s about the expectation of a good time, which is often better than the time itself.
The reality is that we lost Donny Hathaway way too soon. He died in 1979 at only 33 years old. But every time that intro kicks in, he’s back. He’s 25 again, he’s in a studio in Chicago, and he’s telling us that this year, things are going to be "extra special."
That’s the power of a perfectly written song. It doesn't just age; it matures. It collects the memories of every Christmas you’ve had since you first heard it.
To get the most out of your holiday playlist, make sure you're using the original 1970 Atco Records version. The remasters are fine, but the original vinyl press has a certain grit in the low end that makes the "This Christmas" lyrics feel grounded and real.
Actionable Insight for Music Lovers:
Next time you're hosting, try an "Evolution of This Christmas" set. Start with Donny’s original to set the mood, transition into the 1991 Stephanie Mills version for a soulful mid-tempo vibe, and end with the Chris Brown version if you need to pick up the energy. It’s a fascinating way to see how one set of lyrics can be interpreted across three decades while keeping the same core DNA of joy and togetherness.
Check your streaming settings too—ensure you’re listening in "Lossless" or "High Fidelity" mode. The brass section in Donny's arrangement has subtle overtones that get crushed by low-bitrate MP3s. You want to hear the spit in the trumpet and the wood of the drumsticks. It makes a difference. Give Donny the respect his craftsmanship deserves.