Christmas Songs – Silver Bells lyrics

Picture a Christmas Eve where the snow has stopped falling but the ground is generously covered. The family is back from church but it's not yet time for dinner. The house smells of the roasting turkey, so much so that your mouth waters from the first whiff coming in the door. There are no televisions or cell phones around or on to detract from the ambience. The lights are soft; dozens of candles lit. There's After Eights and Planters' Mixed Nuts on a table in the living room for munching. Soft Christmas music is playing, loud enough to be heard but not intrusive on conversation. From the kitchen, you hear clattering and water bubbling merrily, the sounds of a delicious supper nearly done and soon to be devoured. You peer around the corner of the door and there is your mother, all done up in her Christmas finery, with an apron on to protect her beautiful dress. She's busy and moving quickly, wanting everything to be perfect. Her lips are moving. She's singing quietly to the music. Until this song comes on. Her voice swells at the chorus and she sounds uplifted and melancholy all at the same time. Her voice is lovely. Every year, you've heard her sing this song and every year you stop whatever it is you're doing to listen. This is the Christmas song you associate with your mother. Now, every Christmas comes and you hear this song again. Except now, you don't get to spend it with her. You don't get to hear her sing it. And, now, it breaks your heart.