Sleigh Ride
Duke Ellington · Other Songs - Duke Ellington
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling, "Yoo-hoo!"
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy-yap, giddy-yap, giddy-yap, let's go,
Let's look at the show
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy-yap, giddy-yap, giddy-yap, it's grand,
Just holding your hand.
We're gliding along with a song of a wintery fairyland.
Our cheeks are nice and rosy and comfy-cozy are we.
We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be.
Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two.
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
There's a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray.
It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day.
We'll be singing the songs we love to sing without a single stop,
At the fireplace while we watch the chestnuts pop. Pop! Pop! Pop!
There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie.
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives.
These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives!
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling, too.
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling, "Yoo-hoo!"
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
About Sleigh Ride
Duke Ellington's "Sleigh Ride" stands as a distinctive song in his extensive catalog, blending his signature jazz sophistication with the rhythmic drive of swing. While often associated with holiday themes, the track showcases Ellington's ability to craft complex, polyrhythmic arrangements that defy simple seasonal categorization. The recording captures the energy of his mid-career period, where he seamlessly integrated popular dance rhythms with his intricate harmonic language. This piece highlights the versatility of Ellington's compositional style, demonstrating how he could adapt his sophisticated orchestration to appeal to broader audiences while maintaining his unique artistic voice. The song remains a testament to his influence on the swing era, proving that jazz could drive the pulse of popular music without sacrificing its structural depth. It serves as a reminder of Ellington's capacity to create timeless works that resonate across different musical contexts and generations.