According to the FAQ section on her website, the name on her birth certificate is Sandra Patty. A printer's error on the labeling listed her name as Sandi Patti, and she used this moniker as her stage name for the next fifteen years, before returning to her given name of Sandi Patty.
Her career excelled after she won her first two GMA Dove Awards in 1982, and began singing backup for Bill Gaither and the Bill Gaither Trio. She headlined her first national tour in 1984, and reached national acclaim after her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was included during the ABC Statue of Liberty rededication broadcast on July 4, 1986. This exposure led to multiple mainstream television appearances including The Tonight Show, Christmas in Washington, and Walt Disney Fourth of July Extravaganza.
At the peak of her career, her concerts were so heavily attended that she performed in often sold-out mainstream arenas and concert halls. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she averaged over 200 concerts a year, and supported a staff of over 30 that managed her career. During this time she was noted, often critically, as the highest paid singer in the Christian music industry, largely due to massive touring and high-profile public appearances. In 1992, her surprising divorce from manager John Helvering rocked the Gospel Music industry, and this was later followed by an infidelity scandal that subsequently stalled her career in the mid-'90s. However, she slowly rebuilt her career through expanding her musical appeal, performing pops concerts with symphony orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops, and repeatedly served as master of ceremonies for the Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Awards
Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004
39 GMA Dove Awards: 1982 (x2), 1983 (x1), 1984 (x4), 1985 (x4), 1986 (x1), 1987 (x3), 1988 (x3), 1989 (x5), 1990 (x2), 1991 (x3), 1992 (x4), 1994 (x1), 1995 (x1), 1996 (x1), 1998 (x2), 1999 (x2)
5 Grammy Awards: 1984, 1986, 1987(x2), 1991
4 Billboard Music Awards
5 Gold albums (RIAA)
3 Platinum albums (RIAA)
Carol of the Bells
Sandi Patty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All seem to say, throw cares away
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold
Ding-dong ding-dong, that is our song
With cheerful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear words of good cheer
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
O'er hill and dale, telling their tale
Gayly they ring while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
(Merry Christmas)
Hark, how the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, throw cares away
(The bells seem to say, throw cares away)
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold
(Meek and the bold)
(To young and old)
One seems to hear words of good cheer
From everywhere filling the air
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
(Oh, how they pound)
O'er hill and dale, telling their tale
Gayly they ring while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone to every home
(On without end, their joyful tone to every home)
Gayly they ring while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
(Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas)
Merry, Merry, Merry, Christmas
Hark, how the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, throw cares away
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold
One seems to hear words of good cheer
From everywhere, filling the air
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
O'er hill and dale, telling their tale
Gayly they ring while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
(Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas)
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone to every home
(On, on they send, on without end)
(Their joyful tone to every home)
(Hear the bells, aah)
Hark, have a bell, sweet silver bells
Joyfully ring, boy is the king
Till the bells ring, Christ the Saviour is born
Alleluia
In Sandi Patty's version of "Carol of the Bells," the song describes the arrival of Christmas festivities through the sound of silver bells ringing out. The beginning of the song says how the bells are sweet and seem to speak to everyone, encouraging them to let go of their worries and concerns as they celebrate the arrival of Christmas with joy and happiness.
As the song continues, the bells get louder, carrying their message of good cheer over hills and valleys, spreading across the land with their joyful sound. The bells pound in unison, letting everyone know that Christmas is here and that they should sing songs of joy and cheer to welcome the season. The tune of "Carol of the Bells" seems to truly capture the excitement and anticipation that people feel every holiday season as they prepare to celebrate with family and friends, and the song is a reminder to appreciate the beauty and significance of this time of the year.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark, how the bells, sweet silver bells
Listen carefully to the bells, they are sweet and silver in tone
All seem to say, throw cares away
The bells can be interpreted as saying to forget all worries and concerns
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
The arrival of Christmas brings joy and happiness
To young and old, meek and the bold
This good cheer is for everyone, regardless of age or personality
Ding-dong ding-dong, that is our song
The song is represented by the sound of the bells ringing
With cheerful ring, all caroling
The bells join together joyfully, creating a beautiful melody
One seems to hear words of good cheer
It is as if you can hear happy words coming from everywhere
From everywhere, filling the air
This joy is all around and cannot be missed
Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
The bells are powerful, creating a loud and strong tone
O'er hill and dale, telling their tale
The sound travels far and wide, like a story being told
Gayly they ring while people sing
As people sing, the bells continue to ring joyfully
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
The songs sung reflect the happiness felt during Christmas time
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
Wishing everyone a happy and merry Christmas
On, on they send, on without end
The bells keep ringing endlessly
Their joyful tone to every home
This joyful sound reaches every home
Hark, have a bell, sweet silver bells
Listen to the bells, they are sweet and silver
Joyfully ring, boy is the king
The bells ring with joy in celebration of the birth of Jesus, the King
Till the bells ring, Christ the Saviour is born
The bells continue to ring until the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ
Alleluia
A word of praise and worship, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, CARL FISCHER, LLC
Written by: TRADITIONAL, LUTHER HENDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind