The Band - Christmas Must Be Tonight: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Christmas Must Be Tonight" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Intro: G  Em  G  Em  G  Em  G  Em

                  G                       Am
Come down to the manger, see the little stranger
  D                            C        G
Wrapped in swaddling, oh the prince of peace
                  G                      Am
The Wheels start turning, torches start burning
        D                      C      G
And the old wise men journey from the East

Chorus:
       Em          Am            D              G
How a little baby boy bring the people so much joy
          Am       C                 Am    C
Son of a carpenter, Mary carried the light
                Am            D    G    Em  G  Em
This must be Christmas, must be tonight

                 G
A shepherd on a hillside
                Am
Where over my flock I bide
      D                          C       G
Oh a cold winter night a band of angels sing
              G
In a dream I heard a voice
                Am
Say, "Fear not, come rejoice
         D
It's the end of the beginning,
            C       G
Praise the newborn king"

Chorus:
       Em          Am            D              G
How a little baby boy bring the people so much joy
          Am       C                 Am    C
Son of a carpenter, Mary carried the light
                Am            D    G    Em  G  Em
This must be Christmas, must be tonight

               G
I saw it with my own eyes
           Am
Written up in the sky
      D                    C      G
But why a simple herdsmen such as I?
             G
And then it came to pass
        Am
He was born at last
 D                          C        G
Right below the star that shines on high

Chorus:
       Em          Am            D              G
How a little baby boy bring the people so much joy
          Am       C                 Am    C
Son of a carpenter, Mary carried the light
                Am            D    G    Em  G  Em
This must be Christmas, must be tonight
          Am       C                 Am    C
Son of a carpenter, Mary carried the light
                Am            D    G    Em
This must be Christmas, must be tonight
      G    Em
Be tonight
      G    Em
Be tonight
      G    Em
Be tonight
      G    Em
Be tonight
      G    Em
Be tonight
      G    Em
Be tonight

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

Am

Guitar chord Am

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

G

Guitar chord G

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Christmas Must Be Tonight" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Christmas Must Be Tonight" by The Band.

The Band Song List