Finishing a Christmas Song with a "Jingle Bells" flourish

Cafe Society
1

Nat King Cole has it on “The Christmas Song.” The Drifters do it on their “White Christmas.” The bassist (Tracy Wormworth) plays it during the outro on The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping.” I even just heard it at the end of “I F*rted On Santa’s Lap” by The Little Stinkers…

Jingle Bells. Jingle bells; jingle all the way.

That refrain concludes so many Christmas songs it’s hard to keep track. It seems almost as common as a saxophone solo this time of year.

I’d love to hear more examples, as I’m certain I’m forgetting many, and discuss how and why this came to be a tradition.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

2

They say the best Xmas songs are the simplest, which may explain the use of the phrase /motif at the end of some less traditional ones? Rather, its addition is a reminder that “Hey this was a Christmas song! “ Also, since it’s only five notes, everyone knows how to play it and therefore dumps it onto the end as a familiar improv. Maybe.

3

I believe ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ has a Jingle Bell flourish at the end. Not surprising considering the name of the song.