Michael Buble - Silver Bells Lyrics
Lyrics
Every street corner you'll hear, you can hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear, you can hear
Silver bells, silver bells, silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, ring-a-ling, hear them sing, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of streetlights even stop lights blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids rush, this is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle you'll hear, you can hear
Silver bells, the corner Santa Claus, silver bells, is busy now because
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, you'll hear it in the air, hear them ring, you'll hear it everywhere
Soon it will be Christmas day
Very soon it will be Christmas day
Video
Michael Bublé - Silver Bells (ft. Naturally 7) [Official HD]
Meaning & Inspiration
Michael Bublé's rendition of "Silver Bells," released on December 5, 2017, offers a vibrant auditory snapshot of urban festive cheer. While the song itself is a secular celebration of the holiday season, its evocative imagery of joy and community resonates deeply with themes found throughout Scripture. The lyrics paint a picture of a city transformed by the approaching Christmas holiday: busy streets filled with shoppers laden with gifts, children's laughter, and a palpable sense of anticipation. This collective excitement and the shared experience of the season can be seen as mirroring the communal worship and anticipation of God’s promises found in biblical narratives.
The repeated motif of "silver bells" and their "ring-a-ling" calls forth a spirit of announcement and celebration, not unlike the joyous news proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth. As Luke 2:10-11 tells us, the angel declared, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." The pervasive sound of the bells in the song can be interpreted as a secular echo of this divine announcement, a soundtrack to a world ready to embrace a spirit of giving and goodwill. The lyrics describe "city sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style," and a pervasive "feeling of Christmas" in the air. This atmosphere of shared merriment and outward demonstration of holiday spirit can remind us of the biblical call to express our faith through actions and to love our neighbors. As James 2:14-17 states, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?... Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." The song’s depiction of people meeting "smile after smile" and the bustling scene with children rushing suggests a community embracing a shared, outward expression of happiness and generosity, a reflection of the abundance and joy that faith is meant to inspire.
Furthermore, the mention of "streetlights even stop lights blink a bright red and green" and the "corner Santa Claus" busy with his role further enhance the visual tapestry of the season. While these are secular symbols, the underlying spirit of kindness and the focus on bringing joy, particularly to children, aligns with the compassionate heart of the Christmas narrative. The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of caring for the vulnerable and the innocent. Proverbs 3:3 asks us to "let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." The song's portrayal of a city united in a festive spirit, where even the mundane elements of urban life are illuminated with holiday color, underscores a moment of collective pause and celebration. This can serve as a reminder that during times of widespread joy and shared anticipation, there is a unique opportunity for connection and for reflecting on the deeper meanings of the season, much like the ancient Israelites anticipated the coming of their Messiah. The song, in its own way, captures a universal human yearning for connection, joy, and a touch of wonder that is amplified during the Christmas season, inviting listeners to embrace the spirit of goodwill and shared humanity.