Silver Bells

Christmas Carols Explained, #18

Okay, enough silly Europe, we’re going back to AMERICA, BABY.

“Silver Bells” is a recent entry on the list, dating back to 1950, which makes it older than my parents. There were only 48 states back then and you could still get fresh mammoth steaks in Minnesota. Then the Somalis killed them all I promise I’ll be a good boy. Anyways.

Jay Livingston and Ray Evans wrote this one, and Bing Crosby performed it with Carol Richards. It was originally attached to the film The Lemon Drop Kid, and the lyrics paint a picture of a mid-century American Christmas. Decorated streets, shop windows, shopping, Salvation Army Santas, and the works. It’s a very postwar work from the Baby Boom.

Unfortunately it’s also a song that shifts from the religious side of Christmas to the secular side, and it was popular enough to drive a demand for more of the feel-good drapery that was associate with 20th century Christmas. It’s not to be confused with Burl Ives’ performance of “Silver and Gold” in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. That’s a different animal.

While I do lament the oversecularization of a sacred holiday, I give the Crosby rendition a pass because of the overall merit of this album, and the variety it brings. “Mele Kalikimaka” is fun an upbeat, while “Adeste Fideles” is the absolute best track on the whole CD. Check it out.