When we were children Christmas meant presents by the tree
Attending church, eating food and seeing family
Mom and Dad said "go to sleep, or Santa will not come"
Which somehow never kept us from a long night full of fun
And we'd say "Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas"
Though 5am would roll around before we got to bed
"Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas
Or we might have to wake you up instead"

Then when we were older, we loved our Christmas Eve
We'd chat and talk the night away with hardly a reprieve
We'd never tire of having fun, we'd last 'til the sun rose
And then we'd crash exhaustedly still in our Christmas clothes

Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas
We've been good just as we should and Santa's on his sleigh
Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas
Or we will sleep right through the entire day

Nowadays in many ways such busy lives we keep
The gift we're wanting most of all is just to get some sleep
Christmas-time has changed for us since we are all grown
And now we take our orders from children of our own

And they don't forget to wake us up for Christmas
As they pull of our Christmas socks while jumping on our bed
"Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas"
Or we might have to wake you up instead

"Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas"
And don't forget a single word we've said
"Don't forget to wake us up for Christmas
Or we might have to wake you up instead"