Ding Dong Merrily On High

Ding Dong Merrily on High pairs a very old tune with much newer words. The melody began as a secular dance, the Branle de l'Officiel, printed in the French dance manual Orchésographie by Thoinot Arbeau in 1589. The English lyrics were written by George Ratcliffe Woodward and first published in 1924 in The Cambridge Carol-Book.

Its long, ringing Glorias make it a joyful favorite to sing, and our Love to Sing choir keeps every peal bright and clear. It's a wonderful pick for carol services, school nativities and Christmas concerts.

Love the bells? Ring in more Christian Christmas carols, or pair it with Angels We Have Heard on High and Good King Wenceslas.