Bing Crosby - Winter Wonderland (1962)

"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmas time pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard (composer) and Richard B. Smith (lyricist). Richard was reportedly inspired to write the song after seeing Honesdale's Central Park covered in snow. Mr. Smith had written the lyrics while in the West Mountain Sanitarium, being treated for tuberculosis. The original recording was by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra on RCA Bluebird in 1934. At the end of a recording session with time to spare, it was suggested that this new tune be tried with an arrangement provided by the publisher. This excellent "studio" orchestra included many great New York studio musicians including the legendary Artie Shaw. Due to its seasonal theme, "Winter Wonderland" is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere, although the holiday itself is never mentioned in the lyrics. There is a mention of "sleigh-bells" several times, implying that this song refers to the Christmas period.

Parson Brown

The bridge of the song contains the following lyrics:
"In the meadow we can build a snowman,
then pretend that he is Parson Brown.
He'll say 'Are You Married?' We'll say 'No man,
but you can do the job when you're in town!"
In the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as Protestant ministers) often traveled among small rural towns to perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not have a local minister of their own faith.

Children's Lyric

The original bridge, about a couple who make a spur-of-the-moment decision to get married, was supposedly considered inappropriate for children. A 1953 version of the sheet music contains the following replacement bridge[2]
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he's a circus clown.
We'll have lots of fun with Mister Snowman,
until the other kiddies knock 'im down!
When it snows, ain't it thrillin'?
Tho' your nose, gets a chillin'
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland.
In addition, the fact that (as noted above) the circuit-traveling country Parson trekking from village to village is no longer part of the American cultural scene has also contributed to the circus clown replacing Parson Brown. However, some musicians have performed and even recorded the song with both stanzas - Parson Brown and Circus Clown.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Bing
• Crosby
• Winter
• Wonderland

[adriel1226]

Who's the real singer of winter wonderland?

[ChristmasTimeTV]

@adriel1226 Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra on RCA Bluebird in 1934.

[TheBossCave]

Who the heck is parson brown?

[ChristmasTimeTV]

@TheBossCave One can assume that "Parson" is used as a title, instead of a first name. In the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as a Protestant minister) often travelled among small rural towns to perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not have a local minister of their faith. Therefore, the children are most likely pretending that their snowman is a Parson with the surname "Brown," which would be visiting the town again in the future.

[baddhabytz]

There's no better singer of Christmas songs than Bing Crosby! =]

[Eabluedevil79]

A classic christmas song.... so excited!!!

[catnipnbone]

Great song and great to read the history of it as well! This IS Christmas music <3

[Sailerrman]

Today it is snowing, and we will be walking in a winter wonderland to the neighbor's house for a little get together. Perfect walking music!

[Wilddonkeyz22]

1 of my favoirt songs and I can not what until cristmas

[cocutvictor]

The most beautiful winter song!

[pannoni1]

This song is for all winter long as it makes no references to Christmas. Even in the "dog days of winter" when it's snowing its still fun to listen to, just like the song Let It Snow.

[Eabluedevil79]

339 more days