Jingle Bells
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dashing through the snow
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
jimmy shang and kenya?
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And we all fell in the snow
what a way to go

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

Overall Meaning

The classic Christmas song "Jingle Bells" is a timeless favorite that is enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide. The upbeat melody and catchy refrain describe a joyful ride through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, laughing all the way, and making spirits bright. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement, merriment, and carefree fun, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of the holiday season.


The first part of the song sets the scene for a winter sleigh ride, with the upbeat rhythm and bells adding to the festive atmosphere. The second part of the song tells a story of a recent sleigh ride that the singer took with two friends, Jimmy Shang and Kenya. Unfortunately, the horse was "lean and lank," and they got stuck in a snowdrift. Despite their misfortune, the trio still found joy in the experience, singing and laughing all the way.


Overall, "Jingle Bells" is a joyful and upbeat song perfect for spreading holiday cheer.


Line by Line Meaning

Dashing through the snow
Riding swiftly over the snow


In a one horse open sleigh
In a sleigh pulled by a single horse with an open top


O'er the fields we go
Traveling across the fields


Laughing all the way
Enjoying the ride and laughing happily


Bells on bob tails ring
The bells on the horses' harness are ringing


Making spirits bright
Lifting everyone's mood and making them happy


What fun it is to laugh and sing
How enjoyable it is to laugh and sing together


A sleighing song tonight
Singing a song while sleighing tonight


Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
The bells on the harness are jingling


Jingle all the way
The bells jingle throughout the ride


Oh, what fun it is to ride
The ride is very enjoyable


In a one horse open sleigh
In a sleigh pulled by a single horse with an open top


A day or two ago
A couple of days in the past


I thought I'd take a ride
I decided to go for a ride


jimmy shang and kenya?
Unclear, possibly referring to the people riding alongside the singer


Was seated by my side
Were sitting next to me


The horse was lean and lank
The horse was skinny and long


Misfortune seemed his lot
Bad luck seemed to follow the horse


We got into a drifted bank
The sleigh went into a snowbank


And we all fell in the snow
Everyone in the sleigh fell into the snow


what a way to go
Expression of surprise and/or amusement at the situation


In a one horse open sleigh yeah
Riding in a sleigh pulled by a single horse with an open top, expressing enthusiasm




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHUCK HOWARD, EDDY ARNOLD, JAMES PIERPONT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found