In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Silver Bells
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Asleep At The Wheel's song Silver Bells is a cheerful and festive Christmas song with lyrics that depict the joy and cheer of the holiday season in the city. The song begins by describing the bells ringing in the Christmas season and how the city transforms into a wintery wonderland. The cheerful mood of the song is highlighted by the repetition of the phrase "silver bells" and the ringing sound of these bells. As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the city sidewalks and how they are decorated in holiday style. The air is filled with the feeling of Christmas and people seem to be happy and cheerful, smiling and passing one another.
As the night progresses, the city lights up, and the stoplights start to blink a bright red and green, adding to the festive atmosphere. The shoppers who have found their treasures during the holiday rush are making their way back home. As the snow falls gently, children gather to play and have fun, and Santa makes his way through this winter wonderland. Throughout all this, the silver bells can be heard, ringing out in joy and merriment. The song ends by encouraging listeners to listen to the bells and feel the spirit of Christmas.
Overall, Silver Bells is a lighthearted and uplifting song that captures the essence of the holiday season in the city. The lyrics perfectly depict the bustling city as it transforms into a holiday wonderland, and the ringing of the bells adds to the festive atmosphere. It's a happy, cheerful song that's perfect for getting you into the holiday spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Silver bells, silver bells
The sound of silver bells ring throughout the city streets, signaling Christmas time.
It's Christmas time in the city
The holiday season is in full force within the urban environment.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
The pleasant chime of the silver bells can be heard everywhere.
Soon it will be Christmas day
The joyous day of Christmas is rapidly approaching.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
The walkways of the metropolis are bustling with activity.
Dressed in holiday style
The surroundings are decorated with festive ornamentation.
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
An intangible sensation of goodwill and festivity fills the atmosphere.
Children laughing, people passing
The youthful laughter of kids and the movement of people creates an environment of liveliness.
Meeting smile after smile
Humans interact joyously with one another, exchanging expressions of happiness and love.
And on every street corner you'll hear
Every part of the city is filled with the sounds of the silver bells.
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
The illumination of the streets is so bright and lively, even the stoplights seem to shine with holiday cheer.
Blink a bright red and green
The bright and vivid colors of green and red dominate the visual experience.
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
People hurry home with their newly acquired holiday goods.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
The sound of snow compacting can be heard as people watch children play together.
This is Santa's big scene
The setting is quintessentially characteristic of the most iconic holiday figure (Santa Claus).
And above all this bustle you'll hear
Despite the commotion of the bustling city, the sound of the silver bells can still be perceived.
Silver bells, silver bells
The sound of the silver bells persistently rings throughout the city streets.
It's Christmas time in the city
The holiday season is still present and pervasive in the urban environment.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
The pleasant chime of the silver bells remains audible regardless of the noise around.
Soon it will be Christmas day
The long-awaited, joyous day of Christmas will arrive shortly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.