As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the grea… Read Full Bio ↴As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal.

The Barra MacNeils live concert experience brings so much more to the stage than most live acts ever can. Multiple lead vocalists, beautiful sibling harmonies, top drawer instrumental prowess on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percussion and wind instruments, dancing, storytelling, Gaelic songs and a journey through an ancient culture. Family entertainment at its highest level.

Steeped in Cape Breton tradition with strong Celtic roots and musical artistry, this diverse and talented family group continues to wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.

Multi-award winners, the Barra MacNeils have released numerous recordings including, Racket In the Attic (2002), Christmas Album (1999), Until Now (1997), The Question (1995), The Traditional Album (1994), Closer to Paradise (1993 - Certified Gold in Canada), Timeframe (1990), Rock in the Stream (1989), The Barra MacNeils (1986). In 2001, they released a DVD titled Cape Breton Christmas incorporating music from their live Christmas Concert Special (as seen on television), plus a visit to Cape Breton, interviews with the Barra MacNeils home at Christmas and music videos.

Canada's Celtic ambassadors, the Barra MacNeils continue to perform to sold out audiences throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. From headlining major festivals, concerts, special guest appearances (Rita MacNeils CTV Christmas Special, performing with The Chieftains) television specials, film and television placement (Men
with Brooms Soundtrack; Racket In The Attic) and their annual Christmas tour, they have set the course with a solid foundation for success. The Barra MacNeils one-hour Christmas Television Special (2000) continues to be broadcast on Country Music Television (CMT) and on the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) network in the United States.

The Barra MacNeils will continue to do what they love to do best, and that is playing their music for the fans. This incredibly talented family group will tour Canada, the US and Europe to spread their distinctive brand of Celtic flavour around the world.

Carol Of The Bells
The Barra MacNeils Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

CAROL OF THE BELLS

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.
Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling.
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.
Gaily 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.
Ding dong ding... dong!

Overall Meaning

The Barra MacNeils's song Carol of the Bells is a joyous ode to the arrival of Christmas, as marked by the ringing of bells. The use of bells in the song serves as a metaphor for the joy that the holiday season brings. The lines "Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away" encourage listeners to forget their worries and embrace the festive spirit of the season. The song goes on to describe how the bells ring out with "words of good cheer," filling the air with merriment and celebration.

The repeated use of the phrase "ding dong ding dong" perfectly captures the sound of ringing bells and gives the song a playful and upbeat feel. The final lines of the song, "Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas, on on they send, on without end, their joyful tone to every home. Ding dong ding... dong!" express the hope that the joy of the season will spread far and wide, reaching every household and continuing unbroken into the future. Overall, Carol of the Bells is a song that brings together the magic of the season with a sense of community and togetherness.

· The original name of the song is "Shchedryk," which is a Ukrainian folk song.
· The song was composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1914.
· "Shchedryk" was first performed outside of Ukraine in Ukraine at the Kiev Opera House in 1916.
· The song was first recorded in 1926 by Ukrainian choir. The song was then performed in the United States in 1928 by a choir composed of Ukrainian immigrants.
· The Christmas-themed lyrics were written in 1936 by Peter J. Wilhousky.
· In 1941, the song was arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky with English lyrics and this version is titled as the Carol of the Bells.
· It has been covered by a few other artists like Pentatonix, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and The Piano Guys, among others, and is commonly used as a Christmas song during the holiday season.
· The original Ukrainian song, "Shchedryk," was inspired by the tradition of Ukrainian carolers known as "koledari."
· The Ukrainian word "shchedryk" means "generous one," and refers to the tradition of carolers going from house to house, thanking the homeowner and wishing them a bountiful year ahead.
· The melody of "Carol of the Bells" has been used in several television shows, movies, and commercials over the years.

Chords:
Cm G7 Cm G7
Cm G7 Cm Fm Cm G7 Cm G7

Line by Line Meaning

Hark how the bells,
Listen to the sound of the bells

sweet silver bells,
The bells have a melodious sound

all seem to say,
As if the bells are conveying a message

throw cares away
Forget your worries and enjoy the moment

Christmas is here,
It's the time for Christmas celebrations

bringing good cheer,
Bringing happiness and excitement

to young and old,
For everyone, young or old

meek and the bold.
Regardless of personality or nature

Ding dong ding dong
The sound of the bells

that is their song
The sound the bells make is like a song