Ding Dong! Merrily On High
16th-century French Choir of King's College Cambridge John Wells Sir David Willcocks Lyrics
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In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E'en so here below, below,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
The song "Ding dong! merrily on high" was written in 16th-century France, and it paints an image of joyous bells ringing in heaven and on earth. The first stanza talks about the bells ringing happily in heaven, while the second stanza encourages the people on earth to join in and sing joyfully with the priests. The final stanza addresses the bell ringers and the singers, highlighting the importance of their roles in making beautiful music to praise God.
The chorus of the song gives us a glimpse of what the angels might have been singing on the night of Jesus' birth: "Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!" which means "Glory, Hosanna in the highest!" This phrase has become a staple in Christmas carols over the centuries and remains a popular hymn sung in Catholic and Protestant churches.
The second stanza of the song includes the phrase "Io, io, io!" which is an allusion to the ancient Greek god Dionysus. This phrase was often used by the worshipers of Dionysus during their festivals, and it was known to be a joyful exclamation. The use of this phrase in the song is meant to convey the celebratory mood of the occasion.
Line by Line Meaning
Ding dong merrily on high,
The bells are joyfully ringing with a steady and pleasant rhythm.
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
The bells are ringing in heaven, signaling divine celebration.
Ding dong! verily the sky
The sky seems to split open as the chorus of angels sings in a solemn and reverent tone.
Is riv'n with angel singing.
The heavens are split with song as the angelic chorus imbues the surrounding air with their celestial melody.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
This is a call to join in the praise and exaltation of the divine.
E'en so here below, below,
Even as we live upon the mortal plane,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
Let the bells in the steeple be rung,
And 'Io, io, io!'
And let the cry of 'Io, io, io!' (an exclamation of joy) be sung
By priest and people sungen.
By both the clergy and general populace.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Let everyone, regardless of social standing or position, join in the praise and exaltation of the divine.
Pray you, dutifully prime
It is requested that the bells be primed or prepared for ringing,
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
A request to the bell-ringers to perform their morning call to prayer.
May you beautifully rime
May you skilfully and melodiously rhyme,
Your evetime song, ye singers.
May the singers perform their evening hymns in a beautiful and uplifting manner
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Once again, a reminder to all to praise and exalt the divine.
Contributed by Zoe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.