It was in a sweltering July in 1946 when Leroy Anderson began composing the orchestral piece Sleigh Ride. But since then, the music - alone or paired with lyrics by Mitchell Parish - has transported young and old into a horse-drawn sleigh singing over silvery winter fields during the holidays.
One of the top ten most popular pieces of holiday music played around the world, Sleigh Ride has been performed by thousands of orchestras, bands, and singers. For recordings, check out the Boston Pops Orchestra's collection and browse Wikipedia's list of vocal versions, which includes Air Supply, Garth Brooks, Chicago, Harry Connick Jr., Bing Crosby, Hilary Duff, Ella Fitzgerald, the Muppets, the Three Tenors, and Hayley Westenra.
Sleigh Ride
Music by Leroy Anderson, Lyrics by Mitchell Parish
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling 'Yoo-hoo.'
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up,
Let's go, Let's look at the show
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up,
It's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land.
Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be.
Let's take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
There's a birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs
We love to sing without a single stop,
At the fireplace while we watch
The chestnuts pop.
Pop pop pop.
There's a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the chocolate
And the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print
By Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
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The only thing that's more fun than enjoying a great story is enjoying it with others. So pull up a chair, a tack trunk, or a hay bale. Pour yourself and your pony some peppermint tea. And, please, share your thoughts!