Lyrics:

wash the dishes
wash the dishes
the christmas dinner dishes
three generations in the kitchen all at once
and go and get a camera
and go and wake up grandpa
three generations in the kitchen all at once

play a christmas album
the elvis christmas album
three generations sing blue christmas all at once
light another candle
come sit near the piano
three generations sing together all at once

put away the turkey
to make sandwiches tomorrow
and put away the bones
to make the soup for the winter
but not the wish bone
we'll just put it on the counter
to let it dry out this week
in time to make a wish for new year's eve

take turns with the washing
and take turns with the drying
three generations in the kitchen all at once
soak the tough ones till tomorrow
and save the suet for the winter sparrow
three generations merry christmas all at once

put away the fancy dishes
just to take them out next christmas
three generations are only together for so long
telling stories of the good times
the bad times and the war times
three generations are only together for so long