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"Silver Bells" is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

"Silver Bells" was introduced by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in a motion picture called The Lemon Drop Kid in 1951. The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1952, which also became a hit in late 1952. The lyrics are unusual for a Christmas song in that they describe the holiday in the city, and not a rural setting.

== Lyrics == (There are other variations of the Lyrics which have become more popular than the original)

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ringeling, hear them ring
Soon it will be christmas day.

City side walks, busy side walks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air theres a feeling of Christmas.

Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on ev'ry street corner you hear.

Silver bells, silver bells
Its Christmas time in the city
Hear them ring, Ringeling
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Silver bells, silver bells
Its Christmas time in the city
Ringeling, Hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day.

"Silver Bells" started out as the questionable "Tinkle Bells." Said Evans, "We never thought that tinkle had a double meaning until Jay went home and his [first] wife said, 'Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?'" The word is child's slang for "to urinate."

First sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie The Lemon Drop Kid, the song was inspired by the imagery of Salvation Army bellringers standing outside department stores during the Christmas season.

¹ Version by Clay Aiken & Kimberly Locke.

• What's in a song? 'Silver Bells' -- NPR interviews the author Ray Evans, with audio.