1991 - 2000
Brian, Paul, Dom and Damien Rice form Juniper, having met in school. They go to college, play some weddings, 21st's and Bar Mitzvahs... and for a while have a Sunday night residency in the Kildrought Lounge and Bar, Celbridge. They meet Dave, who weans them off the Neil Diamond and Roxette covers. Band move into house in country, release EP, Manna, and two singles in Ireland. Damien leaves band, the others read about Chuck Yeager and his Right Stuff. They call the new band Bell X1. Bell X1 support Elliott Smith and Bon Jovi in the same 1 week period, leading to severe identity crisis, making small music with big hair. They make their first album, Neither Am I, in the summer/autumn of 1999 with Nick Seymour of Crowded House and release it in Ireland a year later, after much touring and a couple of old singles.
2001
Band take some time to indulge musical differences. Paul records and tours as drummer with Tipperary siren Gemma Hayes, Brian's away with Offaly hearthrob Mundy, and Dave and Dom join Richie Mullen of Lino Richie Carpets, Finglas, in touring cabaret show. Bell X1 regroup in late summer and write songs for what would become Music in Mouth in a house by the sea in Wexford.
2002
Second album recording starts in Ridge Farm studios in Surrey, with producer Jamie Cullum. After 4 weeks they move to the Fallout Shelter, London. The studio has no teapot!! Some moaning. The band take turns to make dinner. Some of it is shit. The world Cup happens. Mixing finishes in July and everyone goes away for a while. Come back and mix it all again. Borrow a friend's house in Kilkenny, record some more songs, play hurling, are laughed at by locals. Music in Mouth finally finished in December, a few days after the birth of Jamie's daughter Ellie, who was both conceived and born during the making of the record.
2003, 2004
The album Music in Mouth is released on July 21st 2003, to tremendous applause, and the band play with all sorts to try to flog it. Tom McRae, Keane, Starsailor, Aqualung and Snow Patrol show them the highways and byways of the UK and continental Europe. Songs from the record appear in many TV series, from Teachers to The OC, and at home the album goes double platinum, with four top 40 singles. In July 2004, the band gather in yet another house in Wexford to write a new record.
2005
Flock is recorded in Dublin and mixed in London, with Roger Becherian producing and Phil Hayes knob twiddling. A shrine to Daniel O' Donnell (Irish singing deity, ref Cliff Richard without ever having had a brush with cool) is created in the green room, Dave creates Pistachio Nut Shell Installation and mustaches are grown. The band take a break from recording and sell out a mini tour in the USA, where they record a live session for Nic Harcourt’s essential show on KCRW in L.A.
Flock is released in Ireland and hits the heights of #1 in the album charts. The band leaves Island Records and sets up its own record label called BellyUp records. A live album called Tour De Flock is released - it is a 2-disc compilation featuring 16 tracks from their sold-out gig at The Point Theatre, Dublin on December 1, 2006.
In 2008, Flock is released in the USA and the band appears on the St. Patrick's Day edition of the Late Show with David Letterman.
On 2nd October, Brian Crosby quits saying "It's been an extraordinary privilege to be in a band with your mates for more than 15 years. I'm really grateful for everything I got to do with Bell X1, for all the adventures we had and for the great support of our fans. It's been particularly wonderful to have connected with so many people and to have got to meet people all over the world doing what I love. I look forward to continue making those connections. At the same time I'll be applauding the boys continued success."
As well as promoting Flock in the USA, the band gets busy recording a new album Blue Lights On The Runway. It finally sees the light of day in 2009, with lead single The Great Defector becoming their biggest hit to date (no. 3 in the Irish charts).
2011
The band will release its newest album Bloodless Coup in stores and online on April 1 in Ireland, April 4 in the UK, April 8 in Germany and Benelux, April 12 in the USA and Canada, and April 26 in France. The album's lead single is “Velcro,” which the band performed on The Rachael Ray Show on St. Patrick's Day.
Blow Ins
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm Tuesdays child without the grace
Bring your canary, bring your flame
There's a rich seem of wind in my coal mine
we're just blow ins
On the storm of time
Yeah we're just stoppin'
bucket of water to separate
Those horny dogs of church and state
God of ego and god of light
Pushes us to the corner of our own life
we're just blow ins
On the storm of time
Yeah we're just stoppin'
For a while
I'm like a magpie with all that's shiny and new
I can't help myself, I pick a pocket or two
And if our time was, but a day
We'd show up around midnight, and say hey
Cause we're just blow ins
On the storm of time
Yeah we're just stoppin'
For a while
The song "Blow Ins" by Bell X1 reflects on the transience of life and the realization that we are all just temporary visitors in this world. The lyrics suggest that we should not take ourselves too seriously and instead embrace the impermanent nature of our existence. The opening lines "I should know my time and place, I'm Tuesdays child without the grace" convey a sense of humility and self-awareness, highlighting the fact that we are all flawed and imperfect.
The song also touches upon the theme of power dynamics, particularly the struggle between the church and state, which has been a recurring issue throughout history. The lines "bucket of water to separate, those horny dogs of church and state" suggest that there is a constant tension between these two powerful institutions and that they often use their authority to oppress and control those who are more vulnerable.
The chorus "we're just blow ins on the storm of time, yeah we're just stopping for a while" reinforces the idea that our time on earth is fleeting, and that we should make the most of it while we can. The final lines "cause we're just blow ins on the storm of time, yeah we're just stopping for a while" suggest that we should approach life with a sense of curiosity, spontaneity and openness, and not take ourselves too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
I should know my time and place
I need to be aware of where I stand and belong in this world.
I'm Tuesdays child without the grace
I lack the poise to navigate my way through society.
Bring your canary, bring your flame
Come prepared for the unknown and potentially dangerous journey ahead.
There's a rich seem of wind in my coal mine
Although I may encounter difficulties, there are also opportunities for great reward.
we're just blow ins
We are newcomers without a permanent place in this world.
On the storm of time
We are swept along by the unpredictable and ever-changing currents of life.
Yeah we're just stoppin'
We are taking a break from our constant journey through life.
For a while
A temporary rest before continuing on our journey.
bucket of water to separate
An attempt to keep the conflicting powers of religion and politics from clashing.
Those horny dogs of church and state
The vested interests of religious and political institutions.
God of ego and god of light
The duality of the human psyche between self-centeredness and enlightenment.
Pushes us to the corner of our own life
We are guided by our own desires and fears in life's uncertain journey.
I'm like a magpie with all that's shiny and new
I am easily drawn to new experiences and material possessions, like a magpie attracted to shiny objects.
I can't help myself, I pick a pocket or two
I indulge in the thrill of taking risks to acquire new things and experiences.
And if our time was, but a day
If our lives were to be just a single day.
We'd show up around midnight, and say hey
We would make an entrance in the darkest hour, still ready to make the most of the little time we have.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE BRIAN GERAGHTY, DOMINIC MICHAEL PHILLIPS, PAUL ANTHONY NOONAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fiona
Beautiful song