I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I'm a rolling thunder, pouring rain
I'm coming on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
You're only young, but you're gonna die
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
Hell's bells
Yeah, hell's bells
You got me ringing
Hell's bells
My temperature's high
Hell's bells
I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine
If you're into evil, you're a friend of mine
See my white light flashing as I split the night
'Cause if good's on the left, then I'm sticking to the right
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
Hell's bells
Oh, hell's bells
You got me ringing
Hell's bells
My temperature's high
Hell's bells
Yeow
Hell's bells, Satan's coming to you
Hell's bells, he's ringing them now
Those hell's bells, the temperature's high
Hell's bells, across the sky
Hell's bells, they're taking you down
Hell's bells, they're dragging you under
Hell's bells, gonna split the night
Hell's bells, there's no way to fight, yeah
Ow
Ow, ow
Ow
Hell's bells
I'm coming on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
You're only young, but you're gonna die
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
Hell's bells
Yeah, hell's bells
You got me ringing
Hell's bells
My temperature's high
Hell's bells
I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine
If you're into evil, you're a friend of mine
See my white light flashing as I split the night
'Cause if good's on the left, then I'm sticking to the right
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
Hell's bells
Oh, hell's bells
You got me ringing
Hell's bells
My temperature's high
Hell's bells
Yeow
Hell's bells, Satan's coming to you
Hell's bells, he's ringing them now
Those hell's bells, the temperature's high
Hell's bells, across the sky
Hell's bells, they're taking you down
Hell's bells, they're dragging you under
Hell's bells, gonna split the night
Hell's bells, there's no way to fight, yeah
Ow
Ow, ow
Ow
Hell's bells
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by LHGL
Hells Bells Lyrics as written by Angus Mckinnon Young Brian Johnson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Back in the old days nocturnal thunderstorms were mythologized into The Wild Hunt. One version of the Wild Hunt had it as the Devil hunting for souls. This idea seems to match the lyrics of this song.
In the beginning of this song, the bell is played out. 13 rings are rung to symbolize Bon's Scott's life. It then is preceded by the mournful riff of Angus Young, only for the rhythm guitar, the bass, and the drums to go in perfectly into the song. A new riff begins and the wait to hear the singer is suspended. In 1980, this song made people mad, it took too long for the singer to begin but ended up being loved by many. Finally, after 30 seconds, a voice is heard, and AC/DC was back. Brian Johnson's Hells Bells was the first song of the album for a specific reason, a tribute to Bon Scott, and Hells Bells symbolizes his whole life in this one song. "I'm a rolling thunder, a pounding rain I'm comin' on like a hurricane White lightning, flashing across the sky You're only young but you're gonna die" Bon Scott's reckless life all in one verse. This was perfect, Bon was like a raging storm, he unleashed his path of destruction and electrifying lighting but as soon as the storm was developing to be massive one, it suddenly dies off. Although the storm was young, it ended. "I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives Nobody's putting up a fight I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell I'm gonna get you, Satan get you" Bon was compared to no one. He was a definite bad ass. He loved getting into fights, such as T.N.T. which talks about a badass who everyone fears yet respects. No one put up a fight against Bon, and Bon will certainly make you feel like you're going to Hell if you ever mess with him. "I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine If you're into evil you're a friend of mine See my white light flashing as I split the night 'Cause if good's on the left, then I'm stickin' to the right" Bon's recklessness would leave you with a sour taste. Once he starts, he just won't stop, giving you sensations up and down your back telling you to get the hell out of there. Bon loved his band, there were with him at all times mostly, and they were his friends, his family, and everyone thought that what he did was outrageous and wrong but he didn't care. He will electrify you and he'd loved to do it, and if what he did was wrong but he loved doing it, he'd hate to be right. Never mess with Bon Scott. R.I.P. Bon Scott.
It's kind of obvious from the lyrics that the narrator of this song is the GRIM REAPER. It seems pretty much that simple.
@BWoodmeyer But then why does he say "If you're into evil you're a friend of mine"? Grim Reaper doesn't take sides.
@BWoodmeyer I disagree. It is about Satan, mainly because of the line that Alieno has pointed out in regards to "if you're into evil".
This song is not narrated by the Grim Geaper. It's being spoken from the devils point of view. "'Cause if good's on the left, then I'm stickin' to the right " that would make the right evil not death. It's about the ringing of hell's bells when the devil takes another soul down to hell.
if i had a theme song, this would be it. mabey you think im a satanist, mabey you dont i dont care. i do think that the song should end more abruptly and have one last ring of the bell. i really like the line:i got my bell im gonna take you to hell.
@gearhead426 I do think you're a satanist. Give my warm regards to Lucifer. We had some parties back then.
"Every song on Back in Black is dedicated to Bon Scott. They are all written based on Bonn Scott.... "
really?
What Do You Do for Money Honey Givin' the Dog a Bone Let Me Put My Love into You You Shook Me All Night Long Rock 'n' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
think again dickface
@Boo Urns He could have meant they're dedicated to but not narrated from the point of view of Bon Scott. They could have been inspired by his attitude and/or past lyrics.
Brian Johnson Has said in interview that he wrote this song and not as a tribute. Johnson had writiers block when trying to come up with songs and was inspired to write this after a thunderstorm hit at the recording studio in Jamacia. He goes through the whole story on VH1's "Ultimate Albums" when they covered Back in Black.
Great great song. I don't think he sang it like an idiot, idiot.
Brain's voice just sends shivers down your spine during this song...
I know this coz I saw a documentary where Brian Johnson was talking about how he wrote hell bells...You know how with Bon Scott's death, Brian was drafted into the band...Essentially these guys had gone to the Caribbean(!) to heal their emotional wounds so to speak and Brian, struggling to fit in and fill Bon Scott's shoes, ended up writing one of the most haunting and chilling songs in rock history during an actual thunder storm!!! So "I'm a rolling thunder, a pounding rain I'm comin' on like a hurricane" has nothing to do with Vietnam. It was a proclamation of Brian's arrival on one stormy night, so reflective of the mood of the band at a time when they were struggling to come to terms with the loss of the great Bon Scott.