Carol of the Bells
The Von Trapp Children Lyrics


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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 ev'rywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,

Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

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 sound
On Without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."

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 ev'rywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,

Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

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 sound
On Without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."

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 ev'rywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,

Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

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 sound
On Without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."





Ding Dong, Ding, Dong
Bong

Overall Meaning

The song "Carol of the Bells" by The Von Trapp Children is a beautiful Christmas carol that describes the arrival of the holiday season. The bells are portrayed as a symbol of joy and happiness, urging listeners to let go of their worries and immerse themselves in the festive spirit. The song highlights the unity of the community during the Christmas season, as people of all ages come together and celebrate the joyous occasion.


Throughout the song, the bells are personified and appear to have their own voice, "Hark! how the bells/Sweet silver bells/All seem to say,/Throw cares away." This is followed by the repeated line "Christmas is here/Bringing good cheer/To young and old/Meek and the bold", emphasizing that the holiday season is for everyone, no matter their age or personality type. The use of the word "meek" conveys a message of humility and simplicity, reminding listeners that the true meaning of Christmas is not in extravagant gifts, but in sharing love and solidarity.


The second stanza reflects on the way the bells resonate across the landscape, reaching far and wide, "Oh how they pound/Raising the sound/O'er hill and dale/Telling their tale." Here, the bells are depicted as storytellers, narrating the story of Christmas to all who can hear their joyful sound. The final stanza is a refrain that repeats the first, further emphasizing the main themes of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Hark! how the bells
Listen closely to the sound of the bells


Sweet silver bells
The bells have a beautiful, clear sound


All seem to say,
The sound of the bells convey a message


"Throw cares away."
Let go of your worries and enjoy the moment


Christmas is here
The holiday season has arrived


Bringing good cheer
It's a time for happiness and joy


To young and old
People of all ages can enjoy Christmas


Meek and the bold
Everyone, regardless of personality type, can enjoy the holiday season


One seems to hear
It feels like everywhere you go, you hear the same message


Words of good cheer
People are spreading a positive, uplifting message


From ev'rywhere
The message is coming from all around


Filling the air
It's almost like you can feel the positivity in the atmosphere


Oh how they pound,
The bells are ringing loudly and powerfully


Raising the sound,
The sound is getting louder and more intense


O'er hill and dale,
The sound of the bells can be heard far and wide


Telling their tale,
The bell's sound is telling a story of joy and happiness


Gaily they ring
The bells are joyful and lively


While people sing
People are joining in and singing along with the bells


Songs of good cheer
Everyone is singing happy, uplifting songs


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


On, on they sound
The sound of the bells continues without stopping


On Without end
It feels like the sound of the bells will go on forever


Their joyful tone
The sound of the bells is filled with joy and happiness


To ev'ry home
Everyone can hear the sound of the bells, no matter where they are


Ding Dong, Ding, Dong
Another way to describe the ringing sound of the bells


Bong
A final sound to signal the end of the song




Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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