our musical advent calendar, day 04

Inspired by Pinterest, Anna wanted to do an advent calendar. And inspired by Advent Conspiracy, she wanted to make it about presence, not presents. Ian had a brilliant idea to use music. We each picked out some of our favorite Christmas songs and will be counting down with festive tunes.

day 04. "Sleigh Ride" - Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

You know when you can't get a song out of your head? I can't get this song out of my head. And that will probably be the case until March.

Of all the Christmas songs — hymns, rock, pop, whatever — this is the catchiest. Complete with a slapstick in most versions, "Sleigh Ride" has just the right mix of musical precision and jovial spirit. It's the jazz. What makes Ella Fitzgerald's version unique to me, besides the great brass lines, is her tremendous voice, and that "gid-id-dy up" at 1:52. It's just so much fun. You can't help but tap your toe to this classic.

— Ian

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

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 wintry 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

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 wintry 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

Sleigh ride together with you

Sleigh ride together with you

Sleigh ride together with you