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Let the Bells Ring Lyrics
C'mon, kind Sir, let's walk outside
And breathe the autumn air
See the many that have lived and died
See the unending golden stair
See all of us that have come behind
Clutching at your hem
All the way from Arkansas
To your sweet and last amen
Let the bells ring
He is the real thing
Let the bells ring
He is the real, real thing
Take this deafening thunder down
Take this bread and take this wine
Your passing is not what we mourn
But the world you left behind
Well, do not breathe, nor make a sound
And behold your mighty work
That towers over the uncaring ground
Of a lesser, darker world
Let the bells ring
He is the real thing
Let the bells ring
He is the real, real thing
There are those of us not fit to tie
The laces of your shoes
Must remain behind to testify
Through an elementary blues
So, let's walk outside, the hour is late
Through your crumbs and scattered shells
Where the awed and the mediocre wait
Barely fit to ring the bells
Let the bells ring
He is the real thing
Let the bells ring
He is the real, real thing
And breathe the autumn air
See the many that have lived and died
See the unending golden stair
See all of us that have come behind
Clutching at your hem
All the way from Arkansas
To your sweet and last amen
He is the real thing
Let the bells ring
He is the real, real thing
Take this bread and take this wine
Your passing is not what we mourn
But the world you left behind
Well, do not breathe, nor make a sound
And behold your mighty work
That towers over the uncaring ground
Of a lesser, darker world
He is the real thing
Let the bells ring
He is the real, real thing
The laces of your shoes
Must remain behind to testify
Through an elementary blues
So, let's walk outside, the hour is late
Through your crumbs and scattered shells
Where the awed and the mediocre wait
Barely fit to ring the bells
He is the real thing
Let the bells ring
He is the real, real thing
Song Info
Submitted by
littleroom On Dec 17, 2004
More Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Red Right Hand
Into My Arms
Where the Wild Roses Grow (feat. Kylie Minogue)
O Children
The Mercy Seat
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According to allmusic.com " 'Let Them Bells Ring' is a most dignified and emotionally honest tribute to Johnny Cash and the world he witnessed."
It's certainly got the religious overtones which pay homage to Cash's music. Could it also be a hymn?
I make sense of it by replacing "kind sir" with "cancer". I believe it gives Nick a whole lot more integrity.
This album is the only one of Nick Cave's that I just cannot abide. It's the religion - it's just overwhelming. I really hate this song. It's lyrically uninspired, religiose & the chorus sounds like a Coke advert!
Most of Cave's music has religious and biblical overtones and themes, though it rarely supports religious ideals. If you take his song "God is in the House" at face value, it could be a song celebrating a overly religious town and traditional values. However, I think he meant it as a scathing mockery of religion and theocracy.
Most of Cave's music has religious and biblical overtones and themes, though it rarely supports religious ideals. If you take his song "God is in the House" at face value, it could be a song celebrating a overly religious town and traditional values. However, I think he meant it as a scathing mockery of religion and theocracy.
In the case of this song, it's a song about Johnny Cash (if you listen to the live tour disc, he clearly says the song is dedicated to Cash), and not Jesus.
In the case of this song, it's a song about Johnny Cash (if you listen to the live tour disc, he clearly says the song is dedicated to Cash), and not Jesus.
Much of Cave's music is religious. Many of his songs either directly or indirectly are about God. If you're that opposed t religion, perhaps Nick Cave is not the musician for you.
Much of Cave's music is religious. Many of his songs either directly or indirectly are about God. If you're that opposed t religion, perhaps Nick Cave is not the musician for you.
yea, that's kind of insane to hold the religious angle against Cave on this album, and not any of his others. :/ it's not like it's suddenly on Abattoir Blues a lot more than normal or anything.
yea, that's kind of insane to hold the religious angle against Cave on this album, and not any of his others. :/ it's not like it's suddenly on Abattoir Blues a lot more than normal or anything.