One of the most beloved and popular Christmas songs around, Jingle Bells was written by James Lord Pierpont and was copyrighted under it's original title One Horse Open Sleigh on September 16, 1875. Incidentally, this is the favorite song on my niece Kait. She used to sing this all year long and I have fond memories of seeing her outside in a bikini and snow boots happily singing Jingle Bells.

A couple of interesting vocabulary details in this song - 'bob-tails' refers to the horses tails which have been trimmed short or 'bobbed' so that their tails were not tangled in the reins. And, the word 'upsot' at the end of the second verse means to get drunk. Did I mention Mr. Pierpont was a organist for the Unitarian Chruch in Savannah, Georgia? LOL!

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow,

in a one-horse open sleigh,

Over the fields we go,

laughing all the way.

Bells on bob-tails ring,

making spirits bright,

What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.

Chorus

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

O 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 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 tonight,

and sing this sleighing song;

Just get a bob-tailed bay,

two-forty as his speed

Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you'll take the lead

(Chorus)