Carol of the Bells
UCLA Madrigal Singers 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
Ding, dong, ding, dong,
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
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
Joyf′ly they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merryChristmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry, Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home




{Repeat from beginning}
Ding, dong, ding, dong

Overall Meaning

The Carol of the Bells is a classic Christmas song that celebrates the arrival of Christmas with joy and enthusiasm. The lyrics of the song portray the bells as the heralds of Christmas, inviting everyone to throw their cares away and embrace the festive season. The repetition of the phrase "Ding, dong, ding, dong" follows the melody of the song and emphasizes the bells' sound throughout the verses. The lyrics speak of the joy of Christmas and how it brings good cheer to everyone, regardless of their age or social status.


Throughout the song, the bells are portrayed as spreading the message of good cheer and happiness to all who are willing to listen. The bells' joyous tone seems to heighten as the verses proceed, illustrating the growing anticipation and excitement for Christmas. The final verse emphasizes the everlasting sound of the bells, which continue to ring tirelessly throughout the season, spreading their joyful tone to every home. The Carol of the Bells is a classic Christmas song that captures the essence of the yuletide season, the joy of sharing, and the happiness of being together.


Line by Line Meaning

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


Sweet silver bells
The sound of the bells is sweet and melodious


All seem to say, "Throw cares away"
The bells' message is to let go of worries and be joyful


Christmas is here
The occasion being celebrated is the arrival of Christmas


Bringing good cheer
Christmas brings happiness and joy to everyone


To young and old
The happiness of Christmas is for everyone, regardless of age


Meek and the bold
Even those who are timid and fearless can enjoy Christmas


Ding, dong, ding, dong,
The sound of the bells goes ding-dong, ding-dong


That is their song
Those are the notes that the bells play


With joyful ring
The sound of the bells is full of happiness


All caroling
The bells are singing together in harmony


One seems to hear
It sounds as if from everywhere


Words of good cheer
The bells' message is one of happiness


From ev′rywhere
The sound of the bells seems to be coming from all around


Filling the air
The sound of the bells fills the atmosphere


Oh how they pound
The bells sound as if they are beating heavily


Raising the sound
The sound of the bells is getting louder


O'er hill and dale
The sound of the bells is reaching far and wide


Telling their tale
The message the bells convey is being spread


Joyf′ly they ring
The bells are being rung in a joyful manner


While people sing
People are singing along with the sound of the bells


Songs of good cheer
The songs being sung are ones of happiness


Christmas is here
The occasion being celebrated is the arrival of Christmas


Merry, merry, merry, merryChristmas
A joyous and merry Christmas is being wished to all


On, on they send
The sound of the bells seems to be never-ending


On without end
The bells continue ringing endlessly


Their joyful tone
The sound of the bells is full of happiness


To ev'ry home
The bells' message of joy is reaching every household


{Repeat from beginning}
The song and message is being repeated


Ding, dong, ding, dong
The sound of the bells goes ding-dong, ding-dong




Writer(s): Peter Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich

Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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