In the Evening By the Moonlight / Hear Dem Bells
Al Jolson & Bing Crosby Lyrics


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In the evening by the moonlight
When my mother had finished working
We used to sit around the fire place
Till the cornbread it was done
And then we all would eat our supper
After that we'd clean the kitchen
It's the only time they ever gave us to spare
To have a little fun
Then my daddy used to take his fiddle down
That hung upon the wall
While the silvery moon was shining clear and bright
How the folks would enjoy it
They would sit all night and listen
As we used to sing in the evening by the moonlight

In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear banjos ringing
You could hear them by the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
She would sit all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moonlight oh yeah

In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear folks all singing
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
She would sit all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moonlight oh yeah

In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear banjos ringing
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
She would sit all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moonlight oh yeah

Hear them bells, the story of our love
Hear them bells from up above
My darling, I need you, more each day
I'd be contented dear
If only you would say
I'll be yours forever, sweetheart
Our love is real, we'll never ever part
To be with you, love is my one desire
And if you'll leave me
You'll set my soul on fire

Hear them bells, the story of our love
Hear them bells, the story of our love

Hear them bells, the story's in their sound
Hear them bells, I'm heaven bound
To be with you, love ,is my one desire
And if you'll leave me
You'll set my soul on fire





Hear them bells, the story of our love
Hear them bells, the story of our love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics for Al Jolson and Bing Crosby's "In the Evening By the Moonlight / Hear Dem Bells" capture the joyful memories of family gatherings and musical performances. The opening verse highlights the importance of family time in the evening, after a long day of work, cooking and cleaning. The family would sit around the fireplace and enjoy a meal together before engaging in some fun activities. The father, who played the fiddle, would often entertain the family with music while everyone listened and sang along. The lyrics capture a sense of nostalgia and longing for the good old days, where family time was enjoyed and valued.


The second part of the song is a more romantic love song. The lyrics speak of the bells ringing and telling the story of love. The singer expresses his deep love for his sweetheart, emphasizing that he would be contented if she were to say that she would be his forever. He expresses his one desire to be with his love, and warns her that leaving him would set his soul on fire. The lyrics capture the passionate and emotional feelings associated with young love.


Line by Line Meaning

In the evening by the moonlight
We would gather around the fire when the night sky is illuminated, and the day is over.


When my mother had finished working
After my mother was done with her daily chores, we would rest and spend some quality time together.


We used to sit around the fire place
Our family would snuggle together in a friendly atmosphere around the hearth inside our home.


Till the cornbread it was done
We would wait until the cornbread cooking on the fire was cooked to perfection before we could eat.


And then we all would eat our supper
After our meal was ready, we would all take our seats and have our dinner.


After that we'd clean the kitchen
Once our meal was done, we would clean up the kitchen and tidy up after ourselves.


It's the only time they ever gave us to spare
This was the only opportunity we had to relax and have fun as a family.


To have a little fun
We would enjoy this time as a family and cherish the memories made during these evenings.


Then my daddy used to take his fiddle down
My father would get his fiddle off of the wall, ready to play for us.


That hung upon the wall
The fiddle was usually displayed on the wall when not in use.


While the silvery moon was shining clear and bright
The fiddle would play under the light of the bright and vibrant moon.


How the folks would enjoy it
Our family and others around us would appreciate the sound of the fiddle playing well into the night.


They would sit all night and listen
People would sit around us and enjoy the sound of the fiddle for hours on end.


As we used to sing in the evening by the moonlight
We would sing together as a family in the warm light of the moon hanging up above.


You could hear banjos ringing
In the night, the sound of banjos being played could be heard all around.


You could hear them by the moonlight
The sound of banjos would echo near and far under the moon's light.


You could hear my folks all singing
Our family's singing, mixed with the sound of the banjos, filled the night air.


How my mother she would enjoy it
My mother loved spending time with family, loved music, and enjoyed the simple yet pure moments from the evening.


Hear them bells, the story of our love
The ringing bells are a representation of the love story between us.


Hear them bells from up above
The sound of the bells is coming from a higher place, almost like it was a sign from above.


My darling, I need you, more each day
I love you and cannot live without you in my life, and cherish each and every moment with you.


I'd be contented dear
My happiness depends on you and you alone.


If only you would say
If you would just express that you love me, I would be overjoyed.


I'll be yours forever, sweetheart
I am devoted to you forever and will always provide you with the love and care that you need.


Our love is real, we'll never ever part
The love that we share is authentic, and we will never part or let anything come between us.


To be with you, love is my one desire
Being with you is all that I want and seek, for you are the one that significantly adds meaning to my life.


And if you'll leave me
If you ever leave me, I will be heartbroken.


You'll set my soul on fire
The thought of losing you is excruciating, and it causes me deep pain.


The story's in their sound
The bells have a story to tell that is expressed through their sound.


I'm heaven bound
The ringing of the bells leads me to believe that I am heading towards a heavenly place.


Hear them bells, the story of our love
The ringing bells are a reminder of our deep love, and the story that it tells is beautiful.




Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES A. BLAND, BERNICE MANOLOFF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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