Silver Bells
Count Basie Big Band/Tony Bennett Lyrics


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Silver bells, silver bells
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
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 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 street lights, even stop lights
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 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Silver Bells" is a classic Christmas tune that has remained popular since it was first released in 1950, recorded by Count Basie Big Band and Tony Bennett. The song transports listeners to the hustle and bustle of the city, with its city sidewalks and busy streets dressed in holiday style, creating a feeling of Christmas in the air. The song's beginning, "Silver bells, silver bells, soon it will be Christmas day," sets the tone for the rest of the song, evoking a sense of anticipation and excitement for the upcoming holiday.


Employing playful and evocative imagery, the song continues to paint a vivid picture of Christmas time in the city, with "children laughing" and "people passing, meeting smile after smile." The song emphasizes the sounds of the holiday season with the repetition of "silver bells," creating a sense of rhythm and excitement as listeners imagine city streets ringing with the sound of bells. The song's choruses ring out with the joy of the holiday season, with people rushing through the city streets to finish their shopping and celebrate with family and friends.


Overall, "Silver Bells" is a vibrant and joyful celebration of the holiday season in the city, capturing the excitement and energy of Christmas time in a way that has resonated with audiences for generations.


Line by Line Meaning

Silver bells, silver bells
The sound of Christmas bells can be heard everywhere.


Soon it will be Christmas day
The holiday season is right around the corner.


City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
The streets are packed with people walking around.


Dressed in holiday style
Everyone is wearing festive clothing.


In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
The holiday spirit is all around us.


Children laughing, people passing
Lots of people are out and about, enjoying the holiday season.


Meeting smile after smile
People are happy and friendly with each other.


And on every street corner you hear
The sound of Christmas music is all around.


Silver bells, silver bells
The sound of Christmas bells can be heard everywhere.


It's Christmas time in the city
The city is in the midst of the holiday season.


Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
The jingle of bells can be heard throughout the city.


Strings of street lights, even stop lights
The city streets are decorated with lights for the holidays.


Blink a bright red and green
The lights are shining brightly in festive colors.


As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
People are busy buying gifts for their loved ones.


Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
The snow is falling and kids are playing in it.


This is Santa's big scene
The holiday season is all about Santa Claus and the joy of giving.


And above all this bustle you hear
The sound of Christmas music can still be heard over all the noise.


Silver bells, silver bells
The sound of Christmas bells can be heard everywhere.


It's Christmas time in the city
The city is in the midst of the holiday season.


Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
The jingle of bells can be heard throughout the city.


Soon it will be Christmas day
The holiday season is quickly approaching.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@wimpers

"in the air, there's a feeling of christmas..."

@passionformusic07

Very Nice! He sings it so awesome!! It's Jazzy and just perfect!

@rayhanks7360

At his best folks,, and Basie too,, WoW !!!

@somejailnursedontask4658

Would be great to play at a party. I have a lot of Christmas music; didn’t know this existed, thanks.

@PuffySofty

I just realized this is the inspiration for the Deadpool 2 poster art

@robmounseymusic

The MAN from RED BANK -- that stuff is the TRUTH

@matheussouza3162

aqui do BR pra dizer que o TONY BENNET e o cara

@nickriggio8807

Tony sings on Facebook at : The Amazing Tony Bennett

@tishyobanerjee2332

In the piano solo there's a lick of another song. Can anyone identify and mention the name? Listen from 1:36 to 1:42

@ColumbusII

https://youtu.be/7sW4ikDzaQs

"If I Had You" is a 1928 song by "Irving King" (Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly) with Ted Shapiro. Early hit versions in 1929 were by Rudy Vallée and Al Bowlly.
Many other artists have recorded the song over the years.