Lyr Req: Silver Bells

Subject: Silver Bells
From:
Date: 02 May 97 - 09:31 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to an old country/western tune -- "Silver Bells" It's usually known as an instrumental for guitar or fiddle (or other) but I recently learned there are words as well. Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Rodney Rawlings
Date: 02 May 97 - 10:05 PM

Could you possibly mean the Xmas song that goes:

SB, SB, it's Xmas time in the city. Ding-a-ling, ring-a-ling - Soon it will be Xmas day. --?

If so it would be a city/eastern song, I guess - though it could well have been covered by a country/western artist.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Dale Rose
Date: 02 May 97 - 10:26 PM

I would imagine the original inquiry is about the song as done by Webb Pierce, among others. As for the words, I have them, but will have to transcribe from the CD if no one can come up with them. The songs starts out something like: I lingered down in Mexico and met a Senorita that wore the silver bells, bright shining silver bells.....

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 03 May 97 - 09:53 AM

This is a great tune, almost NEVER appears in albums, and I've never heard it sung. I'm looking forward to getting the words......Tiger

Subject: Lyr Add: NEW SILVER BELLS (Webb Pierce)
From: Gene Graham
Date: 05 May 97 - 02:34 AM

Hi Ralph & Dale....Talk about an OLDIE.....Decca DL 8129

NEW SILVER BELLS
- Recorded by Webb Pierce
Words and music by Webb Pierce and Owen Perry

I lingered down in mexico; And met a Senorita there
Who wore the Silver Bells; Bright shining Silver Bells; That chimed as we danced
They seemed to say I love you so; As we were dancing to and fro
Beneath the candle glow; That starlit night when we found romance.

Now the lovelight was shining in her Spanish eyes
*Fell in paradise - I thought it all would die
Some next Fiesta - I swore that we would meet again
Knowin' there and then - I'd ne'er return

And now I live in memory and though it's much too late
To change the foolish part I played
To leave my brown eyed maid; With Silver Bells.

*Note. Not too sure of this line???

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Bill Day
Date: 05 May 97 - 10:40 AM

Unless she wants "Silver Belle" -about the Indian maiden and her lover! That also fits the request.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Les Benedict
Date: 13 May 97 - 02:22 AM

Thanks for the Webb Pierce lyrics - I'll have to figure out how they fit the melody.

Subject: Lyr Add: SILVER BELL (Madden, Wenrich)
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 11:47 AM

Found On-Line
An apparent extraction from the Levy Site


SILVER BELL
Words, Edward Madden. Music, Percy Wenrich.
New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., 1910.

1. Beneath the light of a bright starry night
Sang a lonely little Indian maid.
"No lover's sweet serenade
Has ever won me."
As in a dream, it would seem, down the stream,
Gaily paddling his tiny canoe,
A chieftain longing to woo
Sang her this song:

CHORUS: "Your voice is ringing,
My Silver Bell.
Under its spell,
I've come to tell
You of the love I am bringing,
O'er hill and dell.
Happy we'll dwell,
My Silver Bell."

2. For many moons, many spoons, many tunes
Woke the echoes of the still summer night,
As down the stream gleaming bright
They floated dreaming.
In his canoe, only two sat to woo
As they listened to the sigh of the breeze
That seemed to sing in the trees
This sweet refrain: CHORUS

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:09 PM

now THAT's the Silver Bell I know....I do the chorus with 'hammered autoharp'..3 brass picks striking the strings with a remarkable sound!...took me several years to find the words (a couple years before Mudcat)...

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:31 PM

Les, I just noticed this was a question from '97, but I'm glad it came back. This is a tune my uncle was looking for. He knew bits and pieces of it but not all, and I never knew it had lyrics. Thanks, everyone. Now, can someone give us a sound file or notation for the tune?

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:34 PM

ok, my first run-through of this thread missed that it is on the Levy site. Les, is that the same melody as you recall? I think this is a tune that must have been popular in Montana at one time.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 12:43 PM

There are two sets of sheet music for Silver Bell on the Levy site. One is the Edward Madden song, the other is a waltz by Charley Baker, no lyrics.

Click Here

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Giac
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 06:14 PM

The guitar version of "Silver Bells" that I know is different, I'm pretty sure. I can't see how the words to either of these songs would fit the melody. But I learned it probably 40 years ago and I could have changed it to suit myself in the meantime.

I never knew of words to it, but would certainly be interested in such.

I always heard it played in a set with "Wheels," "Down Yonder," "Smoke on the Water" (no, no, the WWII one),
tunes of that ilk, with guitar and fiddle trading off.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Alice
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 07:39 PM

"Wheels" would fit into the type of tunes my uncle played. I can remember him asking my brother if he knew it, because my uncle couldn't remember all of it. He said there was a part that made the sound of bells (sounds like the one Bill D described with the autoharp). I wonder just how many songs/tunes there are with this title?

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Dale Rose
Date: 29 Aug 00 - 10:56 PM

I have the Webb Pierce version that I mentioned back in 97 with the lyrics as supplied by Gene, but I also have a guitar version by Chet Atkins and Hank Snow, AND I have a circa 1910 version by Billy Murray and Ada Jones, with the lyrics also posted by Gene earlier today. I will gladly supply RA files (they are already encoded except for the Pierce version) to anyone who requests them. The tune to all three versions is essentially the same.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Les B
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 11:01 PM

Alice - sorry, I didn't see this thread until just now. Since I don't read music, I don't know if the Levy site tune is the one or not. It is a very lovely melody, not unlike Red Wing in its sweep. A lot of fiddlers play it.

I think the first set of words, as supplied back in '98 (last century !), are the ones I've heard. I never have gotten around to learning them, but they are in my files !!!

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 01:58 PM

hey that must be a great set Giac, "Whels, down yonder" and then blasting into "Smoke on the water" by deep purple !!(How do you get the heavy metal fiddle sound?) mama's boys (now called celtus) used to play heavy metal fiddle.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 01:47 AM

Thanks, Mario! The lyrics posted by Gene Graham are the ones I was looking for.

Thanks, evvabuddy.

Eb

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Giac
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 12:56 PM

Eric tV -

No, no, the World War II "patriotic" song recorded by Red Foley -

The only words I remember are:

There'll be smoke on the water, on the land and the sea
When the Army and Navy overtake the enemy
---------------
And the sun that is rising will go down upon that day.

~;o)
Mary

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: GUEST,gale scott
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:12 PM

Do you have a CD with New Silver Bells by Webb Pierce . I have been trying to locate the song for some time for my brother.
Gale Scott
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:15 PM

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 11:01 PM

I will repeat my offer of 29 Aug 00, I will send an RA file (or MP3, if you prefer) to anyone who requests it. Post again here, and I will give my junk hotmail address for you.

To buy the CD is STEEP, so far as I know, it is only on Webb's Bear Family Collection, expect to pay $50 US and up for the four CD set. It is an excellent set, but not worth it if that song is all you want.

Oh, I just now noticed that the requester posted her mail. I will send her a note. (just did so)

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: GUEST,Gale Scott
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 08:20 PM

Dale, I would love to have the mp3 of silver bells by Webb Pierce. Thanks again. In case you deleted my email address it is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 09:57 AM

Someone just posted a link to a fansite for Ken Curtis - Festus Hagan on Gunsmoke, and a former lead singer for the Sons of the Pioneers. Apparently all the people trying to look at it are a mounting to a DDoS attack on the site, so I'm letting it load in another window; but I did get enough to note that one of his albums includes the title Silver Bells. If it finishes loading, I may be able to find out more, but it doesn't appear to be one they have sound tracks for.

John

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 11:01 AM

The thread where Ken Curtis is mentioned is Ten Strike Girls as heard on Gunsmoke.

The Ken Curtis site linked there is Ken Curtis.

The album that lists Silver Bells is Festus Hagan Calls Out Ken Curtis LP ON DOT(COLUMBIA) DLP 25859. The site shows sleeves for 3 Ken Curtis albums, one of which was re-issued, all on LP vinyl. Ken also appears on a number of Sons of the Pioneers recordings, but I can't say anything about which ones.

I don't see any way to tell which of the "Silver Bells" he does, but my expectation would be it's the one Bob Wills made popular as a fiddle instrumental at about that time (early 40s?).

The "Calls Out" album is the only one for which I can find anything other than the title for identification, on this site.

From my own library:

"Silver Bell" is one of the titles on World's Greatest Country Fiddlers, Various artists, CMH Records, CD-5904. The same CD, according to my index, also includes a medley of Silver Bell/Red Wing.

"Silver Bells – (1981 Western Swing "Texas Hot" Style)" appears in Western Swing Fiddle, Stacy Phillips, Oak Publications, 1994, ISBN 0-8256-1122-9.

"Silver Bells" is also in The Phillips Collection Of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes Volume 2, Stacy Phillips, Mel Bay MB95078, 1995, ISBN 1-56222-914-1.

"Silver Bells (That Ring In The Night)" is on MCAD5917 The Best Of Bob Wills, CD, and is the tune I've always thought of for this title, although I wasn't aware of it having lyrics.

John

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: GUEST,Gale Scott
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 10:37 AM

I have been trying to get a mp3 of Webb Pierce's New Silver Bells. Dale Rose had sent me one in Feb of this year and my grandson accidently saved another mp3 on top of it. I am making a CD for my brother who loves Webb Pierce. I emailed Dale and I don't know if he is out of town for Spring Break or really busy, but he has not responded to my email. Is there anyone out there who could help me.
Thank you
Gale Scott

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:56 PM

Dale, send a PM to me or email [e-mail]. I would like to get the mp3.

Thanks.

Alice

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 02:21 PM

Call me an interfering git but are bells ever made from silver? I would have thought it too soft to ting.

Subject: RE: Silver Bells
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 21 Mar 04 - 06:33 PM

Sorry, I don't get here too often. Will try to do that for Gale and Alice soon. Probably not tonight, but certainly this week.

As for Email, Gale, I am a pretty wretched writer, but honestly, I either did not get your note, or it got lost in the flood of 400 or so spam I get each week.

Oh, I just now noticed, you both wrote TODAY, so I am not all that late after all, am I?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Silver Bells
From: GUEST,Silver bell
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 10:48 AM

Hello All
I am looking for Silver Bell with fiddle tab. Can anyone help? thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: New Silver Bells
From: GUEST,Bluegrassears
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 09:38 AM

I lingered down in Mexico and met a Senorita there that wore the Silver Bells, bright shining Silver Bells, that shined as we danced;
They seemed to say 'I love you so' as we were dancing to and fro, beneath the candle glow, that starlit night, when we found romance. (key change)
Now the lovelight was shining in her Spanish eyes, spelling paradise; I thought it over twice. Come next siesta I swore that we would meet again, knowing there and then, I'd n'er return.
(key changes back)
And now I live in memory and though its much too late to change the foolish plans we made, to meet my brown-eye miss with Silver Bells.
(key change)
Now the lovelight...