Ding dong! merrily on high
Bournemouth Symphony Chorus 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 rhyme
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!
Hosanna in excelsis!!!!!!
The song "Ding Dong! Merrily On High" is a cheerful and joyful Christmas carol. The song begins with the bells of heaven ringing joyfully, and the sky filled with the sound of angels singing. The refrain "Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!" is a traditional part of the Catholic mass, translated as "Glory... Hosanna in the highest!" It is often used in hymns and carols that refer to the Nativity, and in this context, it emphasizes the high significance of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The second stanza invites the bells on Earth to join the heavenly chorus, with the refrain slightly revised to "Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!" The word "Io" is an expression of joy, which the song encourages the priests and people to sing joyfully. The third and final stanza is a prayer for the ringers to ring the bells joyfully and for the singers to beautifully rhyme their songs in praise of the birth of Jesus Christ. The song ends with another joyful repetition of "Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!" as a final joyful celebration of the Nativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Ding dong merrily on high,
Let us joyfully ring the church bells making a melodious tune.
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
As church bells ring, angels sing in heaven.
Ding dong! verily the sky
With the sound of church bells and angelic voices, the sky is filled with music.
Is riv'n with angel singing.
The heavens are overflowing with the beautiful songs of angels.
Gloria... Hosanna in excelsis!
Glory to God! Praise the Lord in the highest heaven!
E'en so here below, below,
On earth, let us ring the bells in the church tower.
Let steeple bells be swungen,
Ring the bells in the church tower joyfully.
And "Io, io, io!"
Shout out loud 'Io, Io, Io' as a sign of joy.
By priest and people sungen.
Chant along with the priest and sing together.
Pray you, dutifully prime
Those ringing the bells should pray and make sure that the first bell of the day is perfectly timed.
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
Oh bellringers, make sure the sound of the bells in the morning is perfect.
May you beautifully rhyme
May the sound of the bells be pleasant and harmonious.
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Let the church choir sing in a way that matches the sound of the evening bell.
Hosanna in excelsis!!!!!!
Praise the Lord in the highest heaven with all your might!
Writer(s): Howard Cable, Henry Leck
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.