Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight!
Chorus
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!
A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank,
Misfortune seemed his lot,
He got into a drifted bank
And we, we got upsot.
Chorus
About Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells was written by the American songwriter James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857 under the title One Horse Open Sleigh. It was republished two years later as Jingle Bells, or the One Horse Open Sleigh.
The song never actually mentions Christmas. It began as a lively winter sleighing song and only became a Christmas favourite later in the 19th century. In December 1965 it became one of the first songs played in space, when the crew of Gemini 6 performed it on a harmonica and small bells.
Jingle Bells is traditional and out of copyright, so the words are free to print and sing at school, at church or at home. For printable sheets, download our free carols and activities pack (PDF).