With finals beginning tomorrow morning, now seems the perfect time to resurrect the Pax Plena Song of the Week! 

The tune this week will be a familiar one to most.  Written in 1857 by Boston’s own James Lord Pierpont, the tune was featured prominently atop Diana Krall’s creatively titled Christmas album, “Christmas Songs” in 2005.

But do not let such a blasé album title fool you.  This Jingle Bells track boasts an up-tempo rendition of the popular holiday song as sung by one of Jazz’s most popular and sultry vocalists. It’s enough to make one wish for a sleigh and snow – even in the middle of the desert.

Besides some pretty sweet accompaniment from the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Krall’s version also features the elusive last verse of the song, imploring youngsters to give life a go. Not bad advice this finals week.

As always, lyrics follow after the jump, and a video of Krall’s performance appears below. Enjoy!

“Jingle Bells”
by Diana Krall

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Over 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,

O Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

[repeat]

Now the ground is white
Go it while you’re young,
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! You’ll take the lead.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.


[repeat]

[Vocal Improv]

Hey, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

I’m just crazy about horses!