“All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey Lyrics & 15 Phrases Explained

Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas Is You” is one of the most popular songs this time of the year. Let’s explore some of the phrases and vocabulary in this song. In blue you will find the song lyrics. I’ve also included definitions of some of the song’s phrases, along with other ways to say them. Happy Holidays!

[Intro]
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want youfor my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you, oooh

one thing I need

means there is only one thing that I must have, nothing else matters or is important. You can also say….. 

I just want one thing

• The father said to his daughter, “I just want one thing from you, get your degree.”

One and only

this phrase can be used to speak about a person or another noun.

• You’re the one and only person I want.
• The one and only thing I want right now is pizza.

I don’t care about

refers to something not being of importance to whomever is saying this phrase.

You can also say…..

It doesn’t matter

• It doesn’t matter what I say, he refuses to listen to me.

It’s unimportant

• I’m not going to worry about this, it’s unimportant to me.

Underneath

refers to something being physically under something else.

Beneath

this can refer to a person or another noun.

• You treat me as if I’m beneath you.
• Are my keys beneath the papers on the table?

Below/Under

• Please put the box below the table.
• There is oil leaking under your car.

For my own

refers to something that belongs to the person saying the phrase. It can refer to something that they already have, or something that they want.

You can also say…..

Something that is mine

• I want something that is mine.
• I will finally have something that is mine.

Something that belongs to me

something can also be replaced with the name of the object or thing that belongs to the person.

• I work hard so that I can have something that belongs to me.
• That computer belongs to me.

More than you could ever know

means that someone can’t explain how much something means to them, or how much they want something. This is an amplifier that just refers to not being able to explain how much someone feels about something.

You can also say…..

I can’t put into words

• I can’t put into words how angry I am right now.
• If you can’t put into words what you want to say, I can’t help you.

It’s hard for me to explain / I can’t explain

• I can’t explain how much your help has meant to me.
• It’s hard for me to explain what I’m feeling.

Make my wish come true

this means to make what someone wants happen.

You can also say…..

Make my dreams come true

• you have made all of my dreams come true.
• I thought getting this job would make my dreams come true, but it hasn’t.

Give me everything I want

• He has always given me everything that I have wanted.
• If you don’t give me everything I want, I’m leaving.

[Verse 1]
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don’t need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won’t make me happy
With a toy on Christmas Day

To hang my stocking

this refers to putting a Christmas stocking above a fireplace. A Christmas stocking is an oversized sock, usually made of velvet and usually red, that people can put small gifts in.

You can also say…..

Put my stocking

• I have put my stocking on the mantel so that Santa Claus can put presents in it.

Dangle my stocking

• I dangled my stocking above the fireplace.

Fireplace

refers to the part of a chimney that opens up to a room, and can have a fire in it.

You can also say…..

Hearth

• Hang your stocking on the hearth
• Put another log in the hearth.

Fireplace Mantle

• We like to hang decorations from our fireplace mantle.
• The room was beautifully decorated, with stockings hanging from the fireplace mantle.

[Hook]
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you (you, baby)

[Verse 2]
Oh, I won’t ask for much this Christmas
I won’t even wish for snow
I’m just going to keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won’t make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won’t even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click

Going to keep on

means that something will continue to happen.

You can also say…..

Go on and on

• This has gone on and on long enough.
• She has been going on and on about this for hours.

Goes on forever

• This song goes on forever.
• This is the longest road, it goes on forever.

mistletoe

is a plant that is particularly popular during Christmas time. If two people are underneath mistletoe, traditionally they kiss.

• He walked around with mistletoe for hours trying to get her to kiss him.
• We decorated the office with mistletoe.

stay awake

refers to being awake, usually for a longer period of time than is normal.

You can also say…..

Up all night

• We were up all night waiting for Santa Claus to bring us presents.
• The students were up all night doing their homework.

Can’t sleep

• I’m too excited, I can’t sleep.
• I have so many thoughts running through my head, I can’t sleep.

[Hook]
‘Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you (you, baby)

Hold someone tight

refers to hugging someone.

You can also say…..

Bear hug

• The little boy gave his dad a bear hug.
• Give me a big bear hug.

To squeeze someone tight

• The mom squeezed her kids tight.
• The couple squeezed each other tight before the woman left her her journey.

[Bridge]
Oh, all the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children’s
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa, won’t you bring me the one I really need?
Won’t you please bring my baby to me?

Lights are shining

refers to multiple lights being on, and being able to be seen from a distance. In this case it is referencing lights from Christmas decorations.

You can also say…..

Lights twinkling / twinkling lights

• Lights are twinkling throughout the city.
• Look at those twinkling lights, they’re beautiful.

Bright lights

• Look up ahead, you can see the bright lights of the city.
• It’s nice to get away and be somewhere that doesn’t have so many bright lights.

Fill the air

in this case, this refers to a noise being able to be heard for a long way.

Can be heard from far away / can be heard nearby

• The sounds of kids playing can be simply heard nearby.
• The wolves could be heard from far away.

Can be heard from miles away

• The squeals of joy could be heard from miles away.

[Verse 3]
Oh, I don’t want a lot for Christmas
This is all I’m asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door

[Hook]
Oh, I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby, all I want for Christmas is…

[Outro]
Youuuu
You, baby
Youuuu
All, all, all, all
Youuuu