Jingle Bell Rock – English Lyrics

• By: Bobby Helms

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the festive sounds of "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms! This iconic holiday song offers a fantastic opportunity to learn English through its simple, repetitive, and catchy lyrics. You can pick up common Christmas-themed vocabulary and phrases, as well as expressions related to dancing and fun. The song's upbeat tempo and clear pronunciation make it easy to follow along, helping you to improve your listening skills and even practice your own pronunciation as you sing along to this cheerful, rockabilly-infused Christmas staple. What makes it special is its pioneering role as the first mainstream rock and roll Christmas song, giving it a unique place in holiday music history.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
jingle /ˈdʒɪŋɡəl/ B1	verb - to make a light ringing sound noun - a light ringing sound
bell /bel/ A1	noun - a hollow metal object that makes a ringing sound when struck
rock /rɒk/ A2	verb - to move gently back and forth noun - a genre of popular music
swing /swɪŋ/ B1	verb - to move back and forth noun - a seat hanging from ropes or chains
ring /rɪŋ/ A2	verb - to make a clear resonant sound
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyment or amusement
hop /hɒp/ A2	verb - to move by jumping on one foot noun - a dance
chime /tʃaɪm/ B2	verb - to make a clear ringing sound noun - a set of bells tuned to produce a melody
dance /dɑːns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a set of steps and movements
bright /braɪt/ B1	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise
swell /swel/ B2	adjective - excellent; first-rate
horse /hɔːrs/ A1	noun - a large four-legged animal used for riding and pulling vehicles
feet /fiːt/ A1	noun - plural of foot: the end part of the leg below the ankle
mingle /ˈmɪŋɡəl/ B2	verb - to mix or cause to mix together

Key Grammar Structures

• Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun

  ➔ Present participle as an adjective (gerund)

  ➔ The words "snowin'" and "blowin'" are shortened forms of "snowing" and "blowing", respectively. They function as adjectives describing the action of creating "bushels of fun." It's an informal, contracted form.

• Now the jingle hop has begun

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense (begun)

  ➔ "has begun" indicates an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. "The jingle hop" started and is still in progress.

• What a bright time, it's the right time

  ➔ Exclamatory sentence structure (What a...!) and use of "right" as an adjective.

  ➔ "What a bright time" is an exclamation showing enthusiasm. "Right" modifies "time" to mean "appropriate" or "suitable."

• To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ("to go glidin'"), adjective "one-horse"

  ➔ "To go glidin'" explains the purpose of the swell time. "One-horse" is a compound adjective describing the type of sleigh.

• Jingle around the clock

  ➔ Preposition "around" indicating movement in a circular path or repeated action.

  ➔ This implies jingling continuously throughout the day and night, "around" meaning throughout the duration of the clock's cycle.