It’s interesting how music can transport you back in time. With just a few notes, your mind magically whisks you away to a different time and place. “Jingle Bells” is one of my all-time Christmas favorites, and as popular as it is, it’s likely one of yours as well. It’s one of those go-to Christmas tunes … when the time comes for singing carols, just about everyone is guaranteed to know the words to this one.
Surprisingly, though, “Jingle Bells” was never intended to be a Christmas song at all. Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, it was first published with the title, “One Horse Open Sleigh,” and was sung earlier in the fall (closer to the time we celebrate Thanksgiving) in honor of 19th century sleigh rides and racing, which were popular pastimes. A few years later it was re-released, with the title we all recognize today: “Jingle Bells.”
“Jingle Bells”
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
A quick look at the lively wording and one can just picture the author recalling fond memories of his own sleigh-racing days while growing up in Massachusetts. A sleigh ride with boys taking “their” girl — and probably a second couple in the back, as they wouldn’t dare to go out unchaperoned! — was probably as popular as going to a movie would be today. Snuggled safely under blankets, perhaps a warmed brick or stone at their feet, wind and snow biting at their red noses, giggles and squeals mixing with the jingling of the bells attached to the sleigh and horse’s bobbed tail (which was cut short so as not to tangle in the reins) to alert other drivers you were coming … all those sounds echoing over the hills as they raced about the countryside.
Verse 2 goes on to describe a crazy scene where they were dumped from their 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.
Verse 3 meant to ensure more hilarity:
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.
And with the less known last verse 4, the narrator goes on to suggest that youngsters should get a fast horse, a girl or two, and live it up while they still can:
Now the ground is white
Go it while you’re young,
Take the girls tonight
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.
Another interesting fact: “Jingle Bells” was the first song to be broadcast from space! The crew of the Gemini 6 pulled a prank on mission control on December 16, 1965, when they began to describe an unidentified flying object, making it sound sort of like a sleigh — before busting out bells and a tiny smuggled harmonica, and singing “Jingle Bells” from space.
“Jingle Bells” was a fun song from the start, and continues to bring joy and merriment to all those who hear and sing it today. Makes me want a sleigh ride!
May you all have a very merry Christmas season this year.
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