“Silver Bells” is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.   “Silver Bells” was first performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the motion picture The Lemon Drop Kid, filmed in July–August 1950 and released in March 1951. The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards, released by Decca Records in October 1950. After the Crosby and Richards recording became popular, Hope and Maxwell were called back in late 1950 to refilm a more elaborate production of the song.

“Silver Bells” started out as the questionable “Tinkle Bells.” Said Evans, “We never thought that tinkle had a double meaning until Jay went home and his [first] wife said, ‘Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?'” The word is child’s slang for urination.

This song was inspired by a tiny bell Livingston and Evans had on their work desk.  The song charted in the United Kingdom for the first time in 2009 when a duet by Sir Terry Wogan and Aled Jones recorded for charity reached the Top 40, peaking at no. 27.

By Bing Crosby

Lyrics

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 street lights, even stop lights
blink of bright red an’ 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! ) 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!
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  . . .