Ed Sheeran and Elton John Christmas song: when is ‘Merry Christmas’ Xmas single out - and what are the lyrics?

Ed Sheeran and Elton John have announced details of their upcoming Christmas duet, named ‘Merry Christmas’.

But when will it be released and where will proceeds from the single go?

Here’s what you need to know.

When will Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s Christmas song be released?

The single, titled ‘Merry Christmas’, will be released on Friday 3 December at 5.30.

Sheeran confirmed the timing of the release with a post on Instagram that reads: Me and @eltonjohn are going to go live at 5.30pm GMT today to celebrate the release of “Merry Christmas”. See you there x

He first announced the release on Monday 30 November with a Love Actually inspired video captioned: “Our song ‘Merry Christmas’ is out this Friday. Link in bio to pre-order it or pre-save it. All UK proceeds from this year’s Christmas period will go to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation (www.essmf.com) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (@ejaf ).”

Elton John also confirmed all the details with a post on Twitter featuring Ed doing the famous doorstep scene from the iconic Christmas film, Love Actually.

He wrote: "Just under a year ago, I called @edsheeran to see if he wanted to make a Christmas single with me and now it’s nearly here!"

"‘Merry Christmas’ will be out Fri 3 Dec with all proceeds from this year’s Christmas period going to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation & @ejaf.”

In a video inspired by Love Actually, Sheeran holds up cards saying: “Last Christmas I received a call from my mate Elton John and he told me we should do a Christmas song, and I replied ‘Yeah maybe in 2022’, but I actually wrote the chorus that day and here we are.

“Our Christmas song Merry Christmas is out this Friday (December 3). It has sleigh bells… a lot of them.”

You can pre-order or pre-save the single now.

What are the lyrics to Merry Christmas?

Build the fire and gather ‘round the tree

Fill the glass and maybe come and sing with me

[Chorus] So kiss me under the mistletoe

Pour out the wine, let’s toast and pray for December snow

I know there’s been pain this year, but it’s time to let it go

Next year, you never know

But for now, Merry Christmas, we’ll

Dance in the kitchen while embers glow

We’ve both known love, but this love we got is the bеst of allI wish you could see it through my eyes, then you would know

My God, you look bеautifulRight now, Merry Christmas

The fire is raging on

And we’ll all sing along to this song

Just having so much fun

While we’re here, can we all spare a thought

For the ones who have gone?

Merry Christmas, everyone

Ah-ah-ah-ah

Ah-ah-ah-ah

So just keep kissing me under the mistletoe

Pour out the wine, let’s toast and pray for December snow

I know there’s been pain this year, but it’s time to let it go

Next year, you never know

But for now, Merry Christmas, we’ll

Dance in the kitchen while embers glow

We’ve both known love, but this love we got is the best of allI wish you could see it through my eyes, then you would know

My God, you look beautiful

Right now, Merry Christmas

I feel it when it comes

Every year helping us carry on

Filled up with so much love

All the family and friends are together where we all belong

Merry Christmas, everyone

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah

It’s Christmas time for you and I

We’ll have a good night and a Merry Christmas

It’s Christmas time for you and I

We’ll have a good night and a Merry Christmas

It’s Christmas time for you and I

We’ll have a good night and a Merry Christmas

It’s Christmas time for you and I

We’ll have a good night and a Merry Christmas time

Where will proceeds from the song go?

All UK proceeds from the Christmas song will go to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Could it be Christmas number one?

The song will be released exactly two weeks before the race for the Official Christmas Number One kicks off, which means the track could be a contender for the number one spot.

The 2021 Official Christmas Number One race kicks off at 12.01am on 17 December until 11.59pm 23 December, with other contenders including Adele, George Ezra and ABBA.