Born in Bloomington, Indiana into a musical family, he began performing as a duo with his brother before going on to a successful solo career in country music. In 1956, Helms made his way to Nashville, Tennessee where he signed a recording contract with Decca Records. The following year would be filled with astonishing successes. Helms' first single in 1957 titled "Fraulein" went to No. 1 on the country music charts and made it into the Top 40 on the pop music charts. Later that same year he released "My Special Angel" that also went to No. 1 on the country charts and entered the Top 10 on Billboard magazines pop music charts, peaking at No. 7.
Released just a few days before Christmas of 1957, his song "Jingle Bell Rock" was a big hit but uniquely, it re-emerged four out of the next five years and sold so well that it repeated each time as a top hit and became a Christmas classic still played to this day.
Bobby Helms continued touring and recording for the next three decades. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Helms spent most of his later years living just outside of Martinsville, Indiana, until the time of his death from emphysema and asthma in 1997.
Jingle Bell Rock
Bobby Helms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bell chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell rock
The lyrics of Bobby Helms's "Jingle Bell Rock" are a lively and upbeat celebration of Christmastime fun. The jingling of bell sounds accompanies the swinging of the bells and ringing, as well as the rhythm of the song itself. The atmosphere is jovial and exciting, snowing and blowing "bushels of fun," and the "jingle hop" has begun. The setting is in Jingle Bell Square, with people dancing and prancing, and the air is frosty. The lyrics evoke a feeling of joy and excitement associated with holiday festivities.
The lyrics also make use of seasonal motifs such as the one-horse sleigh, which is a traditional mode of transportation during winter in snowy weather. The jingle horse is urged to "giddy-up" while the jingle bells continue to ring, mix and mingle with the feet shuffling in harmony. The song expresses that Jingle Bell Time is a fantastic time to rock the night away, with friends, loved ones, or during celebrations. A unique aspect of the song is that it includes both the words "Jingle Bell" and "Rock" in the title, which ties together the sound of the instruments with the lively rhythm of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Let's make merry and jingle while we rock!
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
The bells are swinging and ringing, spreading joy everywhere.
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
While it's snowing and blowing outside, let's have some fun together.
Now the jingle hop has begun
The festive jingle hop has commenced, let's join in.
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
The bells are chiming at the perfect jingle bell moment.
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
Let's dance and prance around in the beautiful Jingle Bell Square.
In the frosty air
With the chilly winter air all around us.
What a bright time, it's the right time
It's the ideal time for some gleeful festivities.
To rock the night away
Let's party all night and enjoy ourselves.
Jingle bell time is a swell time
The jingle bell time is terrific and full of fun.
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Let's enjoy the snowy ride in a cozy one-horse sleigh.
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
The jingle horse needs to hurry up and lift its feet up in excitement.
Jingle around the clock
Keep jingling around the clock, never stop partying.
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
Get together, mingle and dance with the jingling sounds of the bells.
That's the jingle bell rock
This is what the jingle bell rock feels like and sounds like, let's enjoy it.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joseph Beal, James Boothe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cherrylove3656
best version of this song ever made no one has come close to his version
@seagreenspiral
i agree so much
@heathersteele6043
you should get pinned! ❤️
@maddogisgood.
Same
@coreywilson3508
Alessia Cara - Jingle Bell Rock
@seagreenspiral
@@coreywilson3508 no. Just no
@eunaekim9216
Who's watching this in 2024?
@erickmartinez7580
It's my ringtone all year long
@hiddenpants171
APRIL 2024.
I refuse to apologise.
@hiddenpants171
@@erickmartinez7580Ah! A man of culture