Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.
While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process.
After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration.
Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.
Currently working on a variety of projects including a talk show and soundtracks for two upcoming Tyler Perry projects, the veteran soul singer could not be happier with the outcome of Ten. For fans of real music, Ten is the perfect addition to the soul cannon.
Silver Bells
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling
Of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
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 of 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 the 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
Soon it will be Christmas day
The lyrics to Brian McKnight's song "Silver Bells" describe the bustling energy of a city during the Christmas season. The city sidewalks and streets are dressed up in holiday style and filled with happy people, including children laughing and smiling passersby. The air is filled with a magical feeling of Christmas, as evidenced by the sound of silver bells ringing on every street corner. Even the streetlights and stoplights are decorated with bright red and green lights, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the excitement of holiday shopping as crowds hurry to find the perfect gifts and treasures to give to loved ones. The sound of the snow crunching underfoot and the sight of kids bunching up to see Santa Claus all contribute to the scene, but above it all, the silver bells continue to ring out in anticipation of the arrival of Christmas day.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the joy and energy of the holiday season in the city, with the ringing of the silver bells serving as a festive soundtrack to the hustle and bustle of the season.
Line by Line Meaning
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
The sidewalks in the city are crowded and bustling.
Dressed in holiday style
The sidewalks are decorated for the holiday season.
In the air there's a feeling
There is a palpable sense of Christmas in the air.
Of Christmas
The feeling in the air is that of the holiday season.
Children laughing, people passing
Children are having fun and people are moving around.
Meeting smile after smile
People are happy and greeting each other with smiles.
And on every street corner you'll hear
Every street corner has the same sound.
Silver bells, silver bells
The sound heard on every street corner is that of silver bells.
It's Christmas time in the city
The bells signify that it's the holiday season in the city.
Ring-a-ling hear them ring
The silver bells are ringing and making a pleasing sound.
Soon it will be Christmas day
The holiday is quickly approaching.
Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
The many streetlights and stoplights are all lit up.
Blink of bright red and green
The lights are flashing in bright red and green colors.
As the shoppers rush home
People are in a hurry to get home after shopping.
With their treasures
These shoppers have made purchases they consider to be 'treasures'.
Hear the snow crunch
The sound of snow crunching can be heard.
See the kids bunch
Children are gathered or grouped together.
This is Santa's big scene
The setting is one that would be associated with Santa Claus.
And above all the bustle you'll hear
Despite the noise and commotion, one sound stands out.
Silver bells, silver bells
That sound is the ringing of the silver bells.
It's Christmas time in the city
The bells continue to remind us of the holiday season.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
The pleasing sound of the bells continues to be heard.
Soon it will be Christmas day
And the holiday is quickly approaching.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind