Ring! Bells Ring! (PDF)
SATB Acappella
Text by F.A. Kreummacher
Music by M Ryan Taylor

I found this delightful carol text when I was working on my children’s Christmas songbook, “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem,” back in 2004. In this version, the voices imitate the sound of the bells, a la “Ring Christmas Bells" (aka “Carol of the Bells"), while the bass sings the words of the tune. This has a completely different feel, but you get the idea. I love the text; it is somewhat ambiguous and leaves me wondering if it is talking about Old Father Christmas or the Christ Child . . . it could go either way.

The Text:
Ring, bells, ring ding, dong, ding;
Ring ding, dong, ding!
Winter .winds are blowing;
Cold the night and snowing;
Children, come and greet me;
Open, I entreat ye!
Ring, bells, ring ding, dong, ding;
Ring ding, dong, ding!

Ring, bells, ring ding, dong, ding;
Ring ding, dong, ding!
Joyful carols sing ye,
See the gifts I bring ye,
For each boy and maiden
Richly I am laden.
Ring, bells, ring ding, dong, ding;
Ring ding, dong, ding!

Ring, bells, ring ding, dong, ding;
Ring ding, dong, ding!
See the candles glowing;
Hearts their love are showing!
List to what I’m. telling,
There I’ll make my dwelling.
Ring, bells, ring ding, dong, ding;
Ring ding, dong, ding!