I think, therefore I write. (我思,所以我写。)

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Friday, December 23, 2005

Christmas carol: Jingle Bells

贝 received the letter of bonus today from his company. He's gonna get 5-month bonus. Yes, no kidding, year-end bonus that equivalent to FIVE freaking months of his salary! While i'm really happy for him, i couldn't help but thought of my own pathetic situation. No, stop! I gotta stop thinking about it. It's Christmas! Think happy thoughts...


Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Through the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.

chorus: Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, O
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot,
We ran into a drifted bank
And there we got upsot.

A day or two ago
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh
He laughed at me as
I there sprawling laid
But quickly drove away.

Now the ground is white,
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls along
And sing this sleighing song.
Just bet a bob-tailed bay,
Two-forty as his speed,
Hitch him to an open sleigh
and crack! You'll take the lead.


This must be one of the most famous Christmas carols, which strangely enough doesn't mention anything about Christmas or any icons of Christmas. The song was first published in 1857 under the name of "One Horse Open Sleigh". So in fact, it was a sleighing song more than a song for the celebration of Christmas.

The story narrated in the song was also rather silly. It's basically just about a guy taking a ride in a sleigh with a girl. He then fell off the sleigh and a smart-ass laughed at him. After that, he picked up more girls and rode away. Well, what an interesting story, huh?!

Anyway, since it's so popular, especially the chorus part, i think even people who don't know English may have heard the melody before. I really wish that everyone can enjoy the holiday as much as me, so here's a translation of the chorus of the song in Mandarin.

Note: the arc means the two characters should be slurred over to make it sound like the multi-syllables English word.



It doesn't matter if any of our friends don't read English. Just print this out and we can all go Christmas caroling together.  

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 @ 4:42 am: Christmas carol: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 @ 2:56 am: Christmas carol: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 @ 3:57 am: Christmas carol: Deck the Halls
Sunday, December 18, 2005 @ 4:46 am: My name is Kong, King Kong
Friday, December 16, 2005 @ 4:02 am: The end of honeymoon period
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 @ 9:59 pm: Making the most of the Air Asia promotion
Monday, December 12, 2005 @ 9:26 pm: Disappointing show and dinner
Monday, December 12, 2005 @ 4:20 am: My aunt's wedding
Thursday, December 08, 2005 @ 1:56 pm: How do i love thee? Let me count the ways.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005 @ 9:35 pm: Friendlies (福娃)