Christmas carol spotlight: Jingle Bells

Christmas carol spotlight: Jingle Bells – “Jingle Bells” is a popular Christmas tune that many celebrants might be surprised to learn is more than 150 years old. #JingleBells

Christmas cheer is front and center in communities across the globe during the Christmas season. This year, celebrants can make this joyous season even more special by singing some of their favorite Christmas songs.

This bell ringing song is a popular Christmas tune that many celebrants might be surprised to learn is more than 150 years old. Written by New England native James Lord Pierpont, “Jingle Bells” was originally published in 1857 under the title “One-Horse Open Sleigh.” Only after a friend of Pierpont’s referred to the song as a “merry little jingle” did the name “Jingle Bells” take.

The popular Christmas carol “Jingle Bells” has an interesting history that remains a topic of debate even now. Written by New England native James Lord Pierpont, “Jingle Bells” was never intended to be a Christmas song, and in fact does not even mention Christmas or any other holiday. In addition, the song’s birthplace is disputed, so much so that there are two commemorative plaques in two different cities, each of which claims to be the place where Pierpont purportedly wrote the song in the 1850s. One plaque is in Medford, Massachusetts, where Pierpont is said to have written the song from a tavern while watching sleigh races taking place outside. The other plaque is in Savannah, Georgia, where locals believe Pierpont wrote the lyrics prior to leading a sing-along of the song at a local church in 1857.

“Jingle Bells” Lyrics

(Extended version)

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh

O’er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtail ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight! Oh,

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago

I thought I’d take a ride

And soon, Miss Fanny Bright

Was seated by my side,

The horse was lean and lank

Misfortune seemed his lot

He got into a drifted bank

And then we got upsot.

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago,

The story I must tell

I went out on the snow,

And on my back I fell;

A gent was riding by

In a one-horse open sleigh,

He laughed as there I sprawling lie,

But quickly drove away.

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells [2x]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white

Go it while you’re young,

Take the girls tonight

and sing this sleighing song;

Just get a bobtailed

Two forty as his speed

Hitch him to an open sleigh

And crack! you’ll take the lead.

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells [x2]

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

Lyrics written by James Lord Pierpont

Lyrics courtesy of Digital Music News

Christmas Carol Spotlights

Here are some Christmas Carols or Christmas music spotlights. Check them out!

1. A-Z of Christmas Music
2. Auld Lang Syne
3. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
4. The Christmas Song
5. Deck the Halls
6. The First Noel
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
8. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
9. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Jingle Bells
12. Let it Snow!
13. Little Drummer Boy
14. O Christmas Tree
15. O Holy Night
16. Silent Night
17. Silver Bells
18. There’ll be scary ghost stories
19. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
20. Winter Wonderland

Be sure to check out these Christmas Songs with Storied Past!

Christmas songs with storied pasts

Article Compliments of Metro Creative. HL19A342 – HL20A250

Check out Colton Dixon’s version of this song!

Jingle Bells – Colton Dixon

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