10 Sleeps till Christmas

Ding Dong Merrily on High is again a Christmas carol full of nostalgia for me. Not only from my younger days but it’s one of those tunes that just keeps coming back in movies, TV programs and you name it I’m sure it’s been played.

It really is just a cheerful tune of celebration.

It turns out that the tune came first with the lyrics being written some time after.   The tune first appeared under the title of Branle de l’Official in Orchésographie in 1519 (Yip, I looked that up on the W.W.NET.)

The lyrics were then written by the English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward and first published as a carol 1924. It is thought that the idea came from Woodward’s interest in church bell ringing (Yip, that too).

Have a read, I’m sure you’ll enjoy and there’s a link at the end if you want to hear it.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv’n with angel singing
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

E’en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And “Io, io, io!”
By priest and people sungen
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime

Your matin chime, ye ringers,
May you beautifully rhyme
Your eve’time song, ye singers
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Hosanna in excelsis!!!

Check out this rendition from these lovely little cherubs. Warning do not watch if allergic to sickly sweet singing.

Image from Pinterest, modified by JRFC