I Was Wondering--Who Wouldn't go?

or Up on the Housetop


For several weeks now, I have been randomly singing Christmas carols. Sometimes they are sparked by a song I hear in a store or by a decoration I see in someone's yard. This afternoon I saw a Santa on a rooftop and before I realized it, I was singing Up on the House Top. Now I have sung that song almost my whole life and it wasn't until that moment I ever thought about who it was exactly that wouldn't go. For those of you who don't know or have forgotten the lyrics, here they are.

Up on the house top reindeer paused
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All part of a little ones with Christmas joys
 
Oh oh oh who wouldn't go? Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop
Click click click
Down to the chimney with the good St. Nick

First come the stop in the middle bell
Hope dear Santa feeling well
Give her a doll in the laps and cries 
One that can open and shut it tight
 
Oh ho ho who wouldn't go Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top, click click click
Down to the chimney with good St. Nick
 
Look in the stop in the middle bell
Hope just sees what a glorious well
Here's a little hammer and lots of pack
A whistle and a ball and a wood clap clap

Oh ho ho who wouldn't go? Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top, click click click
Down through the chimney with the good St. Nick
Oh oh ho who wouldn't go? Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top, click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick (repeat this line once) 

As you can see, twice in every chorus, they ask, "Who wouldn't go?" Who are they talking about? I couldn't find any references to it on the internet. Is it so obvious that it doesn't need a discussion? Help me out. Who do you think wouldn't go? 
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Want to know more?

Up on the Housetop was written in the mid 1860's by Benjamin Hanby and was the first song to focus on Santa Claus. It has been recorded many times, but the most famous is probably the recording by Gene Autry.

Thankful Sunday--December 22, 2013

I am thankful the days are getting longer.

We have turned the corner and the days will be getting longer for the next six months. Thank goodness. Like many other people, the shorter days make me tired and blah. However, now I can look forward to more daylight every day. For that I am thankful.