Jingle Bell Rock – English Lyrics

• By: Bobby Helms

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the history and meaning behind Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock", a pioneering Christmas song that brought rock and roll to the holidays. Explore its creation, the emotions it evokes, and why it remains a beloved classic, perfect for learning about American Christmas traditions and 1950s rockabilly music.

[English]

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring

Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun

Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time

Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square

In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time

To rock the night away

Jingle bell time is a swell time

To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet

Jingle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet

That's the jingle bell rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bell chime in jingle bell time

Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square

In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time

To rock the night away

Jingle bell time is a swell time

To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet

Jingle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet

That's the jingle bell

That's the jingle bell

That's the jingle bell rock...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
jingle /ˈdʒɪŋ.ɡəl/ B1	verb - to make a light ringing sound noun - a light ringing sound
bell /bel/ A1	noun - a hollow metal object, typically cup-shaped, that makes a ringing sound when struck
rock /rɒk/ A1	verb - to move gently back and forth noun - a type of popular music
swing /swɪŋ/ B1	verb - to move back and forth
ring /rɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make a clear resonant sound
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyment or amusement
hop /hɒp/ B1	noun - an informal dance verb - to jump on one foot
chime /tʃaɪm/ B2	verb - to make a ringing sound
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
dancin' /ˈdænsɪŋ/ A1	verb - the present participle of dance
square /skweər/ A2	noun - a public open space in a town or city
frosty /ˈfrɒs.ti/ B2	adjective - very cold with frost
bright /braɪt/ B2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
swell /swel/ B2	adjective - excellent
horse /hɔːrs/ A1	noun - a large plant-eating domesticated mammal with solid hoofs and a flowing mane and tail, used for riding, racing, and to carry and pull loads.
feet /fiːt/ A1	noun - plural of foot

Key Grammar Structures

• Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun

  ➔ Present Participle for Simultaneous Actions

  ➔ The forms “snowin'” and “blowin'” are shortened forms of the present participles “snowing” and “blowing”. They describe actions happening at the same time, adding to the lively, festive atmosphere.

• Now the jingle hop has begun

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The present perfect tense “has begun” indicates that the "jingle hop" started at some point in the past and continues to be relevant in the present.

• What a bright time, it's the right time To rock the night away

  ➔ Use of "What a..." for Exclamations

  ➔ "What a bright time" is an exclamatory sentence. The structure "What a + adjective + noun" expresses a strong feeling of enjoyment or appreciation.

• Jingle bell time is a swell time To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

  ➔ Use of "To + infinitive" as an Adverb of Purpose

  ➔ The phrase “To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh” explains the purpose of jingle bell time being a “swell time”. The infinitive of purpose clarifies *why* it is a swell time.

• Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ “Pick up your feet” is a command or instruction given directly to the jingle horse. The imperative mood is used to give orders or make requests.

• Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet

  ➔ Informal Contraction and Implied Subject

  ➔ "a-mingle" is a contraction of "and mingle", representing informal speech. The sentence also uses an implied subject; the command “Mix and mingle” is directed to the listeners or participants, implying “You mix and mingle.”