Blog caroling: Ding Dong Merrily on High!

For The Footnotemaven's annual tradition of blog caroling, in which you only have to post lyrics and/or a video of your favorite Christmas music and post a link in her comments by December 14th, I chose "Ding Dong Merrily On High!"

The music for this Christmas carol first appeared in a book of dance music by French cleric Jehan Tabourot in the 16th century. English minister and composer George Ratcliffe Woodward would give it lyrics and publish it in 1924.

Lyrics:

Ding dong! merrily on high
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with Angel singing

REFRAIN:

Gloria,
Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria,
Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.

[REFRAIN]

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.

[REFRAIN]

Comments

[Nancy]

I love this carol, too, and couldn't decide between this one and the one I posted. Maybe this will be my favorite next year. (We'll see which one I can't get out of my mind.) Those boys of the Choir of King's College are fabulous!

[Brochure Printing]

Nice choice of song Carol. I chose "Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift This year. :) Happy Holidays!

- Dylan

[Wendy]

This is one of my bell choir's favorite songs to play. I didn't realize the song is that old.

[Karen K]

Nancy, welcome! I know what you mean-- I had a tough time deciding too. There are so many great Christmas songs to choose from. And yes, this choir is fabulous!

Dylan, thank you. I love "Last Christmas." Goes to show that some of the newer songs are also very nice.

Wendy, thanks for coming over. I had actually thought the song was older-- I watched Little Women (the 1994 version) the other night, and in it the March family is singing this song on Christmas Eve-- problem is, the song wasn't around in 1863, at least not with the lyrics.

[Most Rev. Gregori]

When it comes to those old time Christmas carols, nobody can sing them better the British. Beautiful, thanks for posting.

[Poster Printing]

That's very kind of you to share with us the lyrics of this old yet very beautiful Christmas song! -Sarah-

[Karen K]

Bishop Gregori, you're welcome -- glad you enjoyed this as much as I did. May you have a very Merry Christmas!

Sarah, thank you. There are so many great ones that it was a difficult choice to make!