The One Horse Open Sleigh
sheet music, 1857
Transcripts
The One Horse Open Sleigh, song and chorus written and composed by J. Pierpont. [page 2] Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, O’er the hills we go, laughing all the way; Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright, Oh what sport to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what joy it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh! There are 3 additional verses.
Text-dependent Questions:
What type of primary source is this? Who might use it?
Have you heard this song before? How is it similar to and different from a version you might hear today?
What conclusions can you draw about the geography in which the author lived or grew up, based on the lyrics?
How are the actions in the song similar to and different from the way in which we spend free time in the winter today?
Citations
J Pierpont. The One Horse Open Sleigh. Oliver Ditson, Boston, monographic, 1857. Notated Music.