Jingle Bells

Nary a Christmas season should pass without hearing this classic seasonal song, written on September 16, 1854 by James L. Pierpoint, titled One Horse Open Sleigh. One hundred and fifty+ years have passed since this song was penned and it lives on in the true tradition of Folk music being passed down through the generations vocally.

The origins of this song are unclear but contrary to belief, it's clear the song was not originally written as a Christmas tune. Pierpoint had ties to both Medford, MA and Savannah, Georgia but was living in Savannah at the time of its publishing in Boston. Thus, arguments for its origination are claimed by both states. One theory speculates that the song was a reminise of Pierpoint's carefree days in Boston after he had moved to Savannah. The story most often told, is that he had written it for a Thanksgiving service and then repeated the performance during a Christmas pagentry; thus the connection with the Christmas holidays. Nevertheless, the song has become sononomous with the holiday season.

Think about the imagery created in these few scant verses. At the time it was written, the mode of transportation was by carriage and the landscape was filled with miles of open fields. Close your eyes. You can easily envision, the freshly fallen snow, pristine and glistening with the sun. Envision too, the bright blue sky. In the sleigh, are you and the love of your life, bundled up in dapper winter attire and draped in a white fur blanket that shields you both against the icy cold wind swirling around the sleigh. The horse is galloping mightily, speeding along through the fields drawing you into a joyful adventure. Your spirits are high on a carefree winter day.

Lyrics
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 sport it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Chorus
Jingle bells, jingle bells
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.

Chorus

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

Chorus

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young
Take the girls along
and sing this sleighing song
Just get a bobtailed bay
Two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you'll take the lead