DESCRIPTION:
"Up on the House Top" is a Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby in 1864 in the town of New Paris, Ohio. It has been recorded by a multitude of singers, most notably Gene Autry in 1953.

According to William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader, "Up on the House Top" was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by "Jingle Bells", which was written in 1857 (although the latter was originally intended as a Thanksgiving song). It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. In fact, according to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book Hanby was the first to offer up the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes. Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad. During his short life he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867. Other than "Up on the House Top" his best-known song is "Darling Nelly Gray".

In 1992, a syndicated television special of the same name, produced by Perennial Pictures Film Corporation in Indianapolis, Indiana, was released. Co-writer/co-producer/co-director G. Brian Reynolds also was the voice of Curtis Calhoun, and also composed the musical score. His creative partner, Russ Harris, co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and also did voiceover work in this special. The special is the story of Curtis Calhoun, a miserable man who wishes that there were no Santa Claus. But then on Christmas Eve, someone is on top of the Calhouns' roof, and Curtis doesn't know if he is Saint Nick or a cat burglar.

Orvon Grover Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as a singing cowboy on the radio, in movies, and on television for more than three decades beginning in the early 1930s. Autry was also owner of a television station, several radio stations in Southern California, and the Los Angeles/California/Anaheim Angels Major League Baseball team from 1961 to 1997.

From 1934 to 1953, Autry appeared in 93 films and 91 episodes of The Gene Autry Show television series. During the 1930s and 1940s, he personified the straight-shooting hero—honest, brave, and true—and profoundly touched the lives of millions of Americans. Autry was also one of the most important figures in the history of country music, considered the second major influential artist of the genre's development after Jimmie Rodgers. His singing cowboy movies were the first vehicle to carry country music to a national audience. In addition to his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again", Autry is still remembered for his Christmas holiday songs, "Here Comes Santa Claus", which he wrote, "Frosty the Snowman", and his biggest hit, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

Autry is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for film, television, music, radio, and live performance. The town of Gene Autry, Oklahoma was named in his honor.

Up on the house top reindeers paused
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All part of a little ones with Christmas joys

Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top
Click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick

First comes of little Nell
Oh dear Santa fill it well.
Give her a doll that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyes

Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top
Click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick

Look in the stocking of little bill.
Oh just see what a glorious fill.
Here is a little hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and whip that cracks.

Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top
Click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick

Ho oh ho, who wouldn't go?
Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top
Click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick