The Night Before Christmas

by Steven Curtis Chapman
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

It was the (Bm7)night be (A)fore (D)Christ mas,

it seemed and (Bm7)all through (A)the (D)world

ev ’ry (Bm7)thing looked like (F#m)bus’ ness as (G)u su al.

Shep herds (Bm7)sat on (A)a (D)hill side

look ing (Bm7)up at (A)the stars

the while the (Bm7)world fell a sleep,

while un a (Bm7)ware just (Bm7)how deep

was the (Em9)dark ness the (Gmaj7)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas.

And the (Bm7)night be (A)fore (D)Christ mas,

it seemed to (Bm7)be just (A)a (D)night,

but the (Bm7)wind blew like (F#m)some thing was (G)com ing.

al.

And like (Bm7)chil dren (A)with (D)se crets

that they’re (Bm7)burst ing (A)to tell,

the ce dars (Bm7)danced in the breeze,

while all of (Bm7)na ture, (Bm7)it seemed,

held its (Em9)breath on the (Gmaj7)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas.

And the

And (Bm)hope,

(E)hope long a wait ed,

the (D)hope of

the (C)a

(G)ges

would (Em7)break with the dawn.

And the (Bm)song

that (E)all of cre a tion

was (D)an tic i (C)pat

(G)ing

would (Gm)start

with a ba by’s first (A)cry.

And on the (CN.C.)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas,

Mar y (Bm7)laid down to (D)rest,

while (Bm7)Jo seph, he (F#m)paced the floor (G)pray ing.

And in an (Bm7)ev ’ry day (D)sta ble

in an (Bm7)ev ’ry day town,

in the (Bm7)ho urs to come

God would (Bm7)wrap Him (Bm7)self (Gmaj7)up

and (Bm7)come down from (F#m)heav en, and the (Gmaj7)world would for (D)ev er be (Em9)changed

(Gsus2)af ter

the night be fore Christ mas.

The Night Before Christmas — Piano Lead Sheet

1 person has learned this song

"The Night Before Christmas" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of D, 96 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “The Night Before Christmas”

Where are the chord symbols for "The Night Before Christmas" displayed?
Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "The Night Before Christmas" is in D.
What key is "The Night Before Christmas" by Steven Curtis Chapman played in?
The Night Before Christmas is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Night Before Christmas"?
The arrangement plays at 96 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Night Before Christmas" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "The Night Before Christmas"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Night Before Christmas"?
"The Night Before Christmas" was originally performed by Steven Curtis Chapman. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "The Night Before Christmas"?
This arrangement uses 15 chords: A, Bm, Bm7, C, D, Dmaj7, E, Em7, +7 more.
What other songs by Steven Curtis Chapman can I play here?
Try "MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION", "HOW DO I LOVE HER", "I'M GONNA BE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Does "The Night Before Christmas" have chords and lyrics?
Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "The Night Before Christmas" is in the key of D at 96 BPM.
What chords are in "The Night Before Christmas"?
Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of D, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.