Advent Calendar – 23rd December, 2021 – Jingle Bell Blues
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar, 2021
23rd December, 2021
Jingle Bell Blues
James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893)
Although Jingle Bells was never originally intended as Christmas music, it has become one of the most famous Christmas songs in the world. It was first published under the title ‘One Horse Open Sleigh’ in 1857 and was deemed to be either a Sunday school song or a drinking song! Although Pierpont was a songwriter (as well as being a Confederate soldier), none of his other songs achieved the acclaim of this song. It is alleged that Pierpont wrote the song in Massachusetts.
The original lyrics to the song are given here, but they differ somewhat from the lyrics used today. It seems hard to imagine a Sunday school choir singing such words!:
Original words
Dashing thro’ the snow,
In a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the hills we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob tail ring,
Making spirits bright,
Oh what sport to ride and sing
A sleighing song to night.
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what joy it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what joy 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.
Today’s Words
Dashing thro’ 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.
Arrangement and backing track courtesy of guitartricks.com
Guitars –
Lead: Stratocaster | Rhythm: Telecaster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lord_Pierpont