Carol of the Bells
The New York Philharmonic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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,

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
Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong

Overall Meaning

The song "Carol of the Bells" starts with the ringing of the bells and the lyrics begin to paint a picture of the joy and excitement that comes with the Christmas season. The sweet silver bells allude to the sounds of the holiday season and how they can make one forget about their worries and cares. The arrival of Christmas is welcomed and celebrated by all, regardless of age or social status. The melody of the bells is portrayed as pounding and loud, sending out a message to all, telling the tale of the magic of Christmas. The recurring "ding dong ding" adds to the effect of the bells ringing, and one can imagine them resounding throughout the hills and valleys, captivating all who hear them.

As the bells continue to ring, the lyrics then find the people singing songs of good cheer, further emphasizing the celebration of Christmas. The repetition of the word "merry" adds to the jubilant mood of the season, with the holiday spirit being spread far and wide, to every home. The final line of "dong bong" is a release from the celebration, marking the end of the song and perhaps signifying the end of the Christmas season.

Line by Line Meaning

Hark how the bells,
Listen carefully to these beautiful bells,

Sweet silver bells,
These sweet-sounding bells are made of silver,

All seem to say,
These bells together convey a message,

Throw cares away
Forget all your worries and enjoy this festive season,

Christmas is here,
The beloved holiday of Christmas has arrived,

Bringing good cheer,
It brings joy and happiness to everyone,

To young and old,
Regardless of your age, you can enjoy the spirit of Christmas,

Meek and the bold,
This holiday is for both humble and confident personalities,

Oh how they pound,
The bells ring loudly and energetically,

Raising the sound,
The bells increase in volume as they vibrate,

O'er hill and dale,
The bells can be heard across the hills and valleys,

Telling their tale,
They are telling you the story of Christmas,

Gaily they ring
The bells ring happily,

While people sing
People sing along with the bells,

Songs of good cheer,
The songs being sung are to spread happiness and joy,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Wishing you a very happy and joyous Christmas,

On on they send ,
The bells continue to ring,

On without end,
Their ringing seems endless and eternal,

Their joyful tone to every home
The festive and joyful sound of the bells can be heard in every home,

Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong
The sound of the bells can be heard far and wide, echoing endlessly - Dong Ding dong ding, dong Bong

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ROSE, DAVID D. ROSE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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