After a brief spell in the US Army, Vinton was signed to Epic Records in 1960 as a bandleader: "A Young Man With a Big Band." Two albums and several singles were not successful however, and with Epic ready to pull the plug, Vinton found his first hit single literally sitting in a reject pile. The song was titled "Roses Are Red (My Love)." It spent four weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Arguably, his most famous song is 1963's "Blue Velvet" that also went to No.1. 23 years later, David Lynch named his movie Blue Velvet after the song. In 1964, Vinton had two #1 hits, "There! I've Said It Again" and "Mr. Lonely", the latter now being the basis for Akon's hit "Lonely."
In the 1970s, the "Polish Prince" continued to hit the Top 40, notably with "Ev'ry Day of My Life" and "Sealed With a Kiss" in 1972. That same year, Epic Records decided to end its relationship with Vinton and ended his recording contract. Undeterred, Vinton spent $50,000 of his own money on a self-written song sung partially in Polish: "My Melody of Love." After Vinton was turned down by 7 major labels, ABC Records bought Vinton's idea, and the result was a multi-million selling single that hit #1 on the AC charts in 1974. A gold album, Melodies of Love, followed as well as a successful half-hour variety show "The Bobby Vinton Show" (which aired from 1975 to 1978). He also starred in two John Wayne movies: Big Jake and The Train Robbers.
In the course of his career, Vinton has sold over 75 million records (singles, albums, compilation inclusions, etc) and is still performing on tour and at the Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
Jingle Bells
Bobby Vinton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Oh, 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
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
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot
Oh, 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 yeah
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
The song "Jingle Bells" is a holiday classic that brings joy and cheer to listeners every year. The song starts with the image of dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh with bells ringing on the bob tails, making spirits bright. This immediately creates a vivid and playful scene of winter time fun with family and friends, surrounded by snow-covered fields.
The chorus consists of the repetition of the phrase jingle bells, jingle all the way, followed by the statement of how fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh. This catchy chorus is what makes the song so popular during the winter holiday season and has become a staple in American popular culture.
In the second half of the song, the singer recounts a recent experience where he rode in a sleigh with a woman named Miss Fanny Bright. Unfortunately, the horse became caught in a "drifted bank" causing the sleigh to tip over. Despite the accident, the singer concludes the song by reiterating how fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.
Overall, "Jingle Bells" is a lighthearted and nostalgic tune that captures the joyful spirit of the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Dashing through the snow
Moving quickly and exuberantly through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
Riding in a sleigh pulled by a single horse without a top or cover
O'er the fields we go
Traveling across the fields and countryside
Laughing all the way
Enjoying the ride and having a great time
Bells on bob tails ring
The bells attached to the horses' tails ring as they trot or gallop
Making spirits bright
Bringing joy and happiness to all those involved in the ride
What fun it is to laugh and sing
Expressing the joy and pleasure of being with friends and loved ones during the ride
A sleighing song tonight
Singing songs while traveling through the snow in the sleigh at night
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Exclaiming the sound of the bells on the horses' tails
Jingle all the way
The bells make a sound as the sleigh moves through the snow
Oh, what fun it is to ride
Expressing enjoyment and pleasure from the experience of riding in the sleigh
In a one horse open sleigh
Clarifying the type of sleigh the singer is riding in
A day or two ago
Referring to a recent event that happened not long ago
I thought I'd take a ride
The singer decided to go for a ride in the sleigh
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
The singer invited a woman named Fanny Bright to join him on the ride
Was seated by my side
Fanny Bright sat next to the singer during the ride
The horse was lean and lank
Describing the physical appearance of the horse as thin and unenergetic
Misfortune seemed his lot
The horse appeared to be unlucky and experiencing difficulties
We got into a drifted bank
The sleigh and its riders went into a snowbank, causing it to become stuck
And then we got upsot
The sleigh and its riders tipped over and fell out of the sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Repeating the earlier exclamation about the sound of the bells on the horses' tails
Jingle all the way
The bells continue to ring as the rider falls out of the sleigh
Oh, what fun it is to ride
Despite the misfortune, the singer still enjoys the experience of riding in the sleigh
In a one horse open sleigh yeah
Reiterating the type of sleigh the singer is still riding in
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RC
on Venus
Frankie Avalon is the best-known version of this song.