Did I slip? Know I stumbled
Did I trip? 'Cause I know I fell
All's I know is I'll wake up
Here in my clothes tomorrow
Oh, girl I wish I knew you well
Oh, girl I wish I knew you well
But I'm just sayin'
Hi,
To your answering bell

Did I run? Thought I was walkin'
Through your inexhaustible gale
The names are changed but the constellations
Are still fallin'
Oh girl, if you could only tell
Oh girl, if you could only tell
And I'm just sayin'
Hi

Let your tears fall and touch my skin
Then your thunderclouds could rage with hail
I will collect them all for you in butterfly jars
Oh girl, I'll build your wishing well
Oh girl, I'll build your wishing well
And I'm just sayin' hi
To your answering bell

Did I sleep? I musta been dreamin'
Did I weep? 'Cause I cried like hell
All's I want is your fortress of tears
To crumble

Oh girl, I'd tear 'em down myself
Oh girl, the story's they could tell
And I'm just sayin' hi


Lyrics submitted by ang

Answering Bell Lyrics as written by Ryan Adams

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Answering Bell song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    the live version of this song is trluley awesome. everyone should see ryan adams live, at least once.

    zippermagneton May 22, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song makes me cry almost everytime. such beauty.

    lubahon May 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is so beautiful. this is what love should be to me...i'll collect your tears to build a wishing well for you--the person i'm meant to be with will do that, create happiness by taking away my pain

    flickerchick27on May 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the names are changed but the constellations are still fallin

    gotta love ryan... a friend of mine introduced me to his music and i'm addicted. more people gotta start listening to him cause he's awesome... i just hope they don't make up some stupid comparison like calling him the next dave matthews or something.

    he just has the greatest vocabulary and lyrics style... agh, oh ryan, how i love thee... ;)

    bex2408on August 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I AGREE!! he writes some of the most beautiful songs all with beautiful lyrics. This reminds me of a Van Morrison song, the verses do anyway. What really impresses me about Ryan Adams is the wide variety of songs he writes, not just one genre. Some are very like Dylan others like Springsteen then you've got Morrison etc etc. God I love him. Great video to this song to, with surprise guest star Elton John dressed up as some wizard, Hilarious.

    linz_eon August 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Heehee, i saw it too. Excellent song, excellent lyrics, excellent all-rounder. Ryan has a great talent for this sorta thing. I went to school with a guy called Ryan Adams and no one understood me when I had a giggle. Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) also in the vid for this.

    katoxon June 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This has to be one of my favorite Adams songs! I like alot of them but this one really makes me smile everytime I hear it.

    ReneaAlbyon June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    why isnt my comment showing up.. this blows! Anyway, I really love this song . What I orignally said was that i smile everytime i hear this song and blah, blah, blah.

    ReneaAlbyon June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Adam Duritz is not only in the video for this song... listen to the bg's... (and check the cd credits) it's none other...

    Georgeon May 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    well, if I was ever to make a movie... a romatic-ish movie in the same genre as Garden State, I would put this song on the soundtrack. No doubt.

    chwymnkyon March 11, 2006   Link

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