Born in Oakdale, New York on Long Island, Monheit began singing professionally while attending Connetquot High School. At 17, she began studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge. At the age of 20, as a senior, she won the first runner-up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. In 1999, she received her Bachelor's degree in music.
Monheit's voice has been compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald, whom she lists as one of her influences. Songs she has recorded range from jazz standards to MGM/RKO musicals of the 1930s-1950s and Brazilian rhythms such as "Começar de novo".
Monheit released her debut album, Never Never Land in October 2000 and it became an instant success. This was followed shortly by her second album, Come Dream With Me (May 2001) and her third, In The Sun (October 2002).
Her fourth album, Live at the Rainbow Room, was released in December 2003. A similarly-titled DVD was released to complement the CD.
Her fifth album, Taking a Chance on Love, was released in September 2004. It debuted at the #1 spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart and entered Billboard's top 100 pop chart the first week it was released. The album included the song Over the Rainbow, which had been included in her previous release recorded at the Rainbow Room, and also in the soundtrack for the film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
The Taking a Chance on Love DVD was released in March 2005 and contains performances from the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, UK. Monheit released her sixth album, The Season, in October 2005. Her first holiday-themed album, it debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's jazz chart. Monheit told jazzreview.com that it was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald's holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
The singer recently signed a recording contract with Concord Records. Her most recent album, Surrender, debuted at #1 on Billboard's jazz chart.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Jane Monheit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth, I said,
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.
In Jane Monheit's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", the poet reflects on the message of peace and good will as echoed by the bells of Christmas. The first stanza describes the sound of the bells playing their "old familiar carols" that echo "peace on earth, good will to men". The second stanza notes how the "belfries of all Christendom" join together in spreading the same message of good will through their unbroken song. The third stanza suggests that the sound of the bells takes over the world and turns "night to day" spreading the chant of peace on earth.
However, in the fourth stanza, the tone changes and the poet admits to losing hope and says, "there is no peace on earth". The poet feels that hate is too strong and mocks the song of good will. The final stanza, however, provides hope as the poet notes that the bells chime louder, proclaiming that God is not dead and the right will prevail over wrong. The message of peace on earth and good will to men is present throughout the song and is meant to encourage individuals to strive for peace, even in times of strife.
The song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is based on the poem "Christmas Bells" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863.
Longfellow wrote the poem on Christmas Day in the same year that his son, Charles Appleton Longfellow was severely wounded in the American Civil War. The war left Longfellow devastated and he was deeply affected by the violence and destruction he witnessed. The poem reflects his concern and despair about the state of the world.
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" was first set to music in 1872 by John Baptiste Calkin.
The original poem has seven stanzas, but the song only uses five of them.
The song has been recorded by several artists including Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash and Harry Belafonte.
The song was used in the 2005 television movie "The Christmas Blessing".
In 1956, Johnny Cash released a version of the song with revised lyrics, focusing more on the hope of Christmas and less on the despair described in Longfellow's original poem.
In 2016, Christian contemporary artist, Casting Crowns, released a version of the song with a slightly different melody and added lyrics.
Chords (verse): G, C, G, D, G, C, G, D
Chords (chorus): G, Em, C, G, D, G, Em, C, G, D, G
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas day
I perceived the ringing of bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
The usual and customary Christmas songs are being played
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The words of the song are passionate and poignant, uttered with emotion
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The song calls for harmony among people, and benevolence towards them
And thought how, as the day had come,
I mused how, as the day progressed,
The belfries of all Christendom
The bell towers of all Christian places
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Continued spreading the melody incessantly - without interruption
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The lyrics are focused on 'peace on earth, and goodwill towards men'
Till ringing, singing on its way
Jingling and singing along the path
The world revolved from night to day,
The globe completed its rotation and moved from darkness to light.
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
An appealing melody supported by harmonious corollary singing
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The hymn inspires and articulates the yearning for peace and goodwill towards every person
And in despair I bowed my head
Overwhelmed with grief and hopelessness, I hung my head
There is no peace on earth, I said,
I had surrendered to the notion that peace on earth is unachievable
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Hatred is dominant and ridicules the calling for unity and benevolence
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The song once again glorifies and emphasizes the value of peace and goodwill towards every person
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
Suddenly, the bells became louder and more profound
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
God is alive and watchful, and watching over the world
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Evil deeds will falter, and the good triumphs
With peace on earth, good will to men.
The call for peace and benevolence is reasserted
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind