Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Happy Christmas, Kyoko
Happy Christmas, Julian
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you had fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas (war is over)
For weak and for strong (if you want it)
The rich and the poor ones (war is over)
The road is so long (now)
And so happy Christmas (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 Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done? (if you want it)
Another year over (war is over)
And a new one just begun (now)
And so happy Christmas (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 Christmas
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 Christmas (Happy Christmas)
Happy Christmas (Happy Christmas)
Happy Christmas (Happy Christmas)
Happy Christmas (Happy Christmas)
Listen to the song
Hør sangen
About the carol Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono and released in 1971 with the Plastic Ono Band and the Harlem Community Choir. Produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, the song combines a Christmas greeting with a direct message about peace. Lennon and Ono had previously used the phrase “War Is Over” in their anti-war campaign, and the song carried that message into the Christmas season. John Lennon
The song begins by asking listeners to reflect on the year that has passed and what they have done. It then moves between Christmas wishes and questions about conflict, responsibility and hope. The repeated message that war can end gives the song a serious purpose beneath its festive arrangement. The Harlem Community Choir adds a communal quality, making the closing Christmas wishes sound like a shared appeal.
Its Christmas connection is therefore closely linked with the idea of peace. Instead of treating Christmas only as a celebration, Lennon and Ono use the holiday as a moment to ask listeners to imagine a world without war. The song has remained part of seasonal music because its message combines familiar Christmas greetings with a broader hope for peace and human understanding.
