Silver Bells
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Jay Livingston |
| Lyrics | Ray Evans |
| Year Written | 1950 |
| About Silver Bells | |
| Lyricist Ray Evans says that the song was originally called “Tinkle Bells.” That is, until composer Jay Livingston told his wife about the new song and she reminded him that the word ‘tinkle’ had a another meaning and so it was changed to “Silver Bells.” It was first recorded in 1950 by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards and was also used in the 1951 movie The Lemon Drop Kid with Bob Hope, who performed the song with Marilyn Maxwell. | |
Lyrics
Silver bells silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them sing
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
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa’s big scene
And above all this bustle
You’ll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Session / Album Information
2004
“Silver Bells” was recorded in 2004 and released in 2008 for A Swingin’ Christmas. It was arranged by Lee Musiker.
This recording released on:
- 2008: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 732250 — A Swingin’ Christmas
- 2011: Disc #73 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK71) A Swingin’ Christmas