"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is a Christmas song with lyrics by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. The lyrics are set to the traditional English ballad "Skewball". It was the seventh single release by Lennon outside of his work with the Beatles. The song reached number 4 in the UK, where its release was delayed until November 1972, and has periodically reemerged on the UK Singles Chart, most notably after Lennon's death in 1980, at which point it peaked at number 2. Also a protest song against the Vietnam War, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" has since become a Christmas standard, frequently covered by other artists, appearing on compilation albums of seasonal music, and named in polls as a holiday favorite.
Lyrics[]
John Lennon[]
- (Happy Xmas Kyoko
- Happy Xmas Julian)
- So this is Xmas
- And what have you done
- Another year over
- And a new one just begun
- And so this is Xmas
- I hope you have fun
- The near and the dear one
- The old and the young
- A very Merry Xmas
- And a happy New Year
- Let's hope it's a good one
- Without any fear
- And so this is Xmas (war is over)
- For weak and for strong (if you want it)
- For rich and the poor ones (war is over)
- The world is so wrong (if you want it)
- And so happy Xmas (war is over)
- For black and for white (if you want it)
- For yellow and red ones (war is over)
- Let's stop all the fight (now)
- A very Merry Xmas
- And a happy New Year
- Let's hope it's a good one
- Without any fear
- And so this is Xmas (war is over)
- And what have we done (if you want it)
- Another year over (war is over)
- A new one just begun (if you want it)
- And so happy Xmas (war is over)
- We hope you have fun (if you want it)
- The near and the dear one (war is over)
- The old and the young (now)
- A very Merry Xmas
- And a happy New Year
- Let's hope it's a good one
- Without any fear
- War is over, if you want it
- War is over now
- Happy Xmas (2x)