Composer: Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)
Transcribed by Daniel B. Ziesemer
The tune to this beautiful “classical pops” song was composed by Leroy Anderson in 1948. Originally it was an instrumental piece, inspired by the 1946 July heatwave, but in 1950 words were put to it by Mitchell Parish. Ever since its birth, “Sleigh Ride” has been a unanimous hit- its words and music warming the heart with wintry cheer, and telling the story of a young man and lady taking a sleigh ride, and stopping at a farmer’s house for a birthday party.
With the piano and the sound of sleigh bells the song begins; a lively, cheerful air it is, reminding the listeners of happy times spent during Christmastime. The violin introduces the happy tune, continuing throughout the song as the focal instrument, ever quick and merry, and prompting your feet to dance with joy. The delightful noise of a cracking whip is heard several times mid-way, and towards the end the violin’s part quickens, then slows, being echoed by the piano, and finishes off with a rousing melody of legato and pizzicato, including the horse whiney and another crack of the whip.
About the Composer and Lyricist
Leroy Anderson, born to Swedish parents in America, was first taught to play the piano by his mother, then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and learned various forms of music technique at Harvard. In 1936 his own arrangements gained notice, and in 1938 his first composition was used by the 18th conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra- a combination of the too-short “Jazz Pizzicato” and the longer “Jazz Legato”. While in the U.S. Army, Anderson continued to compose, writing such light orchestral or “classical pops” pieces as “The Syncopated Clock”. He was a prolific composer throughout his short life of 66 years, and “Sleigh Ride” is undoubtedly his most well-known tune.
Mitchell Parish was born in Lithuania, but immigrated with his parents to the states before his first birthday. He initially studied law at Columbia and New York universities, before deciding to change his career to that of songwriting. He wrote many lyrics for theater and to the music of classical or other already-written melodies.
Parish wrote the words to several of Leroy Anderson's tunes, namely, “Blue Tango”, “The Syncopated Clock”, and this beloved melody, “Sleigh Ride”.
Notes by Brieanna Savard
Lyrics:
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
ring ting tingling too
Come on, it’s lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling
and friends are calling “Yoo hoo,”
Come on, it’s lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
let’s go, Let’s look at the show,
We’re riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap,
it’s grand, Just holding your hand,
We’re gliding along with a song
of a wintry fairy land.
Our cheeks are nice and rosy
and comfy cozy are we
We’re snuggled up together
like two birds of a feather would be
Let’s take that road before us
and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it’s lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.
There’s a birthday party
at the home of Farmer Gray
It’ll be the perfect ending a perfect day
We’ll be singing the songs
we love to sing without a single stop,
At the fireplace while we watch
the chestnuts pop. Pop! pop! pop!
There’s a happy feeling
nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the chocolate
and the pumpkin pie
It’ll nearly be like a picture print
by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
we remember all through our lives!
of a wintry fairy land
Our cheeks are nice and rosy
and comfy cozy are we
We’re snuggled up together
like two birds of a feather would be
Let’s take that road before us
and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it’s lovely weather
for a sleigh ride together with you.
