Silver Bells
(Silver bells, silver bells)
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling),
Hear them ring (ting-a-ling)
Soon it will be Christmas day.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas
(Children laughing,
People passing,
Meeting smile after smile)
And on every street corner you’ll hear
Silver bells, (Silver bells) Silver bells, (silver bells)
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling (ring-a-ling),
Hear them ring (hear them ring)
Soon it will be Christmas day.
(Strings of streetlights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
Home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids rush
This is Santa’s big day
And above all this bustle you’ll hear
Silver bells) the corner Santa Claus,
(Silver bells), it’s busy now because
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, (it fills the winter air)
Hear them ring (you’ll hear it everywhere)
Soon it will be Christmas day.
City sidewalks, (silver bells) busy sidewalks,
(Silver bells) Dressed in holiday style
In the air (It’s Christmas time in the city)
There’s a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, (ring-a-ling)
People passing, (Hear them ring)
Meeting smile after smile
Very soon it will be Christmas day.
Listen to the song
Hør sangen
About the carol Silver Bells
“Silver Bells” was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and first introduced in the 1954 film The Lemon Drop Kid. Bing Crosby and Carol Richards recorded an early popular version, helping establish the song as a Christmas standard. The song presents a different view of Christmas by focusing on the holiday atmosphere of a busy city.
The lyrics describe city streets during the Christmas season, with shoppers, decorations, lights and the sound of bells creating a festive environment. Unlike songs centered on snow or Santa Claus, “Silver Bells” highlights the experience of Christmas in an urban setting. It captures the excitement of communities preparing for the holiday.
Bing Crosby’s recording helped make the song widely recognized. Its connection to Christmas comes from its celebration of seasonal sights and sounds, especially the transformation of cities during December. “Silver Bells” remains popular because it reflects a familiar part of modern Christmas life: walking through decorated streets and feeling the excitement of the holiday season.
