Tee-hee… “I like to Victorian silliness of this. It seems to have a bit more breathing space as a waltz.” I’m rather glad to hear Jon taking liberties with Mr. Pierpoint’s creation, originally written in 1857 for Thanksgiving rather than Christmas anyway, apparently. Where the extra couple of verses have come from is less clear!
You can buy the December digital album now from all good download stores.
Brilliant!
It’s wonderful how Jon can show us the ingrained beauty of overplayed old chestnuts like this. Thank you!
Superb – I definitely prefer it as a waltz!
What fun! I loved it.
This and the way the cricket is going has put a big smile on my face today. I love the Victorian silliness, we only usually seem to hear the first verse!
Great stuff! Music to get snowed-in to. Plus it’s traditional to add a bit to an old song to make it your own— even if it is two whole verses, hahaha! Bet Jane R will like it…
excellent
Great fun, especially the extra verses, and I love the contrast between the verse in waltz time and the trotting chorus. I do have to report though that I know someone who does just about everything in waltz time.
Brilliant, I love this version!
made me smile happily. and as Mark says the cricket’s pretty good too. (If we retain the Ashes, any chance of a version of ‘when an old cricketer leaves the crease’?)
Roy Harper’s version here
Great performance ! But there are no ‘additions’ as Pete Walsh claims. Save for the substitution of ‘arse’ for ‘back’ this version is available in any decent Carol book.
We have a thread on this song at Mudcat, of course:
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=53794
You’ll find FOUR VERSES in the thread, plus an Esperanto version, plus crosslinks to a number of parodies. What more could you want?
-Joe Offer, The Mudcat Cafe-
Thanks for putting me right Stephen!
@ Stephen & Pierre Walsh: Admin wrote in the opener “Where the extra couple of verses have come from is less clear!”
I’ve never heard the full version of this song before and I’m over 50. It must not have been deemed wholly suitable for children when I learnt it, as it is rather suggestive, if not obviously so.
In fact, the words are really rather meaningless and nonsensical without the suggestion! The fun in this song is in the singing.
Well! I’ve hated this song all my life, it’s always made me squirm. But that was a wonderful performance, I really enjoyed it. Both the singing and the concertina work, (especially the descending lines in that dancing chorus).
I think I’ll probably still find that all the other recorded versions will be unbearable torture though.
probably the first time since a child i’ve enjoyed this one. cheers!
[…] blog has moved to the celebration and enrichment of the already known. I would highly recommend his waltz timing of ‘Jingle Bells’ and this group a’cappella version of ‘Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer’. Happy […]
Absolutely loved this, had to chuckle at the extra verses and it certainly put a smile on my face. Could do with the sleigh here as the snow is back again.
Very jolly – cheered me up, what with the blizzard going on outside.
@Diana – we are getting snowed in at work in Bolton, so I was afeared you would be too!
Jon has a penchant for the variety hall funny, feisty and a bit risqué methinks! Makes the festive season festive anyway. Glad to report snow bin and gone here! Good! Carol conert at Manningham Mills with aged aunt tomoz! Cousin doing catering again. Yeh!
I never did like this, so when I read the title I groaned ! And now, I LOVE IT.
It has been an over worked seasonal jingle (sorry about that) for far too long and really deserved this new lease of life. And just right for a snowy day in The Marches.
Hope you get or got home safely (depending upon when you read this). Conditions improving here, as I can see the hills for the first time today. Nothing to do with my eyesight I hasten to add, just the thickness of the white cloud.
Sorry Peter I missed your name of the [revious message.
The Esperanto version is masterly. Translating poems or songs into Esperanto is quite a challenge, because the stress always comes on the penultimate syllable.
Esperanto is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012. I’m sure we’ll hear more about that shortly.
Thanks Diana, I got home safely. Spent half the day clearing snow from our car park first…
@ Jane………………I must have lived a sheltered life……I listened, and listened and listened…..but could find nothing risque in the verses…..just a chap picking a lady out of the snow ’cause she had fallen orf ‘er ‘orse!….
and how I wish I had an aged aunt Tomoz…what’s her full name?
@ BILL…………come on…give us at least the chourus in Esperanto
Number of verses & lyrics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells
@Jane………wow .thought we had Jane back for a moment and then realised she had commented in May!………….
I did recheck ther Wikipedia link and good to read the history of the song………..
I wonder if Fanny Bright is still rolling around in the snow!
I am still amused by Admin Simon’s lapse to childhood with his opening ‘Tee Hee’..
Blokes- I ask yer-……………………big kids at best!
A really jolly version just right.
Muzza thought the same as you then like you spotted that she wrote it in May. Haven’t had a reply to my emails either – rather concerned.
As Diana said a really jolly version…..Muzza hope you’ve ironed your vest ready for xmas
Oh yes Lindy Lou….vest ironed for Daina and one sock on for Janey….I’ll look a right bobby dazzler!
Hope you’ve got the wardrobe sorted for Christmas Muzza……..a nice cheeky song for Christmas heard Jon singing one about a Hippopotimus recently…(sorry about the spelling having a Diana moment)
Hi Lindy Lou
Lady friend said she would only come with me to see the morris Men on new Years day
if I didn’t dress up in silly stuff……..she has an aversion to my tiger onesy, my gorilla costume and inflatable Father Christmas suit . however, I have acquired a spiffing Beaky owl hat from a charity shop which I intend to keep secreted, then make sure she is in front of me in the crowd.. then sneakily pop the owl hat on….until she turns and blows her top or storms off (women – ask yer!)
Ha….the old beaky owl hat was a great success last year at the morris do……but only got away with it as the lady friend was (unfortunately,) not well and couldn’t come with me!
Oooooer…she’s a bit under the weather, already, at the moment as well but I hope she’s ok for Boxing Day as I’m a bit too knackered and decrepit to dress up this year.