Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
John Lennon's protest carol
♫ Lyrics
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear...
Lyrics excerpt shown. This song is under copyright protection.
❄ The Story
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" grew out of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's anti-Vietnam War activism. In 1969, they had launched a billboard campaign in 12 major cities reading: "WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) — Happy Christmas from John & Yoko." Two years later, they transformed the slogan into a song.
Recorded in October 1971 at the Record Plant in New York with the Harlem Community Choir — 30 children whose voices give the song its ethereal, almost hymn-like quality — the track blends Lennon's plaintive vocal with Ono's spoken-word whispers and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound production. The opening question, "So this is Christmas, and what have you done?", is both a gentle challenge and a moment of reflection.
The song was initially kept off UK radio by the BBC due to Lennon's political activism. It didn't chart in the UK until after his murder in December 1980, when it reached #2. Since then, it has become a perennial favourite, regarded as one of the greatest Christmas songs ever written — a rare carol that is simultaneously a peace anthem, a protest song, and a genuine expression of holiday tenderness.
🎶 Notable Recordings
The original — with the Harlem Community Choir
A lush orchestral cover
A spare, acoustic interpretation
Fun Facts
The song grew from Lennon and Ono's 1969 anti-war billboard campaign: "WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It)."
The Harlem Community Choir — 30 children — gives the song its distinctive angelic backing.
The BBC initially refused to play it due to Lennon's political activism.
It didn't chart in the UK until after Lennon's assassination in December 1980.