Lyrics to “Jingle Bells,” published in 1857 by James Pierpont:

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,

He got into a drifted bank and there we got upsot.

(Chorus)

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.

(Chorus)

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.

(Chorus)
Source: “Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” by Ace Collins