"Ding Dong Merrily on High" is a secular dance tune that evolved into a Christmas song. The tune first appeared in the Orchesographie, a dance book written by Jehan Tabourot (1519-1593). The lyric was composed early in the 20th century by George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934), the author of several carol books. The 1995 re-release album cover of White Christmas A Christmas song is a song which is normally sung during the Christmas period, and usually has lyrical content addressing the holiday, the winter season, or both. ... Thoinot Arbeau is the anagrammatic pen name of Jehan Tabourot, who was born in Dijon in 1519. ... Events March 4 - Hernán Cortés lands in Mexico. ... Events May 18 - Playwright Thomas Kyds accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The lyrics are as follows:

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

207.200.116.131 19:50, 16 December 2005 (UTC)