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.
Hey Anna Lena
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's get married
Let's get outta this place
Just take what you can carry
I got the pink lilo
Won't need much where we're going
Can I get a witness?
Let's take your sister
Hey Anna Lena
For richer or poorer
May the force be with you
Because you're worth it
We leave at first light
When the house is all quiet
Just act casual
Like you do this all the time
Oh-oh, 5-0
Hey Anna Lena
Between me and you
There's only so much
Popeye can do
To teach you how
To win the girl of your dreams
Beat up the bad guy
And eat your greens
Hey Anna Lena
I think that I know
The Hills where your life rose
The Hills where your life rose
I may be only
Five years old
But I think that I know
The Sea where it goes
The lyrics of Bell X1's song "Hey Anna Lena" tell the story of a couple who are ready to leave their current lives behind and start anew. The singer is urging Anna Lena to marry him and escape their current situation by taking only what they can carry with them. He references a pink lilo, indicating they may be going to the beach, and asks if he can get a witness to their love. In the second verse, the singer affirms his commitment to Anna Lena, stating that he is willing to take the risk of being poor, adding a nod to Star Wars’ May the Force be with you. They plan to leave quietly and casually so as not to draw attention to themselves.
The song's chorus brings in elements of humor, with mentions of Popeye, the popular cartoon character, and the idea that there is only so much he can do to help win the girl of your dreams. The singer is encouraging Anna Lena to be herself and pursue her dreams. He then reminisces about the Hills surrounding Anna Lena's life, suggesting that he has known her for a long time, possibly since childhood when they were both only five years old. The song ends with a reference to the Sea, indicating that the couple is ready to embark on a new journey and start their lives together.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Anna Lena
The singer is addressing Anna Lena.
Let's get married
The singer wants to marry Anna Lena.
Let's get outta this place
The singer wants to leave their current location.
Just take what you can carry
The singer advises Anna Lena to only bring what she can carry.
I got the pink lilo
The singer has a pink flotation device.
Won't need much where we're going
The singer suggests they won't need many possessions where they're headed.
Can I get a witness?
The singer wants someone to confirm their plan with Anna Lena.
Let's take your sister
The singer wants Anna Lena's sister to come with them.
And let's go
The singer is ready to leave now.
For richer or poorer
The singer is referring to the wedding vow of being together through good times and bad.
May the force be with you
The singer references the famous Star Wars line to wish Anna Lena well.
Because you're worth it
The singer believes Anna Lena is deserving of happiness.
We leave at first light
The singer plans to leave early in the morning.
When the house is all quiet
The singer wants to leave without waking up others in the house.
Just act casual
The singer advises Anna Lena to act like it's a normal day.
Like you do this all the time
The singer wants Anna Lena to act like leaving is a regular occurrence.
Oh-oh, 5-0
The singer references the police with the expression '5-0.'
Between me and you
The singer is talking privately to Anna Lena.
There's only so much
The singer believes there are limits to what can be accomplished.
Popeye can do
The singer references the cartoon character Popeye, who is known for his strength.
To teach you how
The singer suggests Popeye can teach Anna Lena how to do something.
To win the girl of your dreams
The singer is referring to Anna Lena as 'the girl of your dreams' and suggesting Popeye can teach the singer how to win Anna Lena's love.
Beat up the bad guy
The singer suggests Popeye can teach the singer to fight a villain.
And eat your greens
The singer references Popeye's habit of eating spinach as a source of strength.
I think that I know
The singer believes they know about Anna Lena's past.
The Hills where your life rose
The singer is referencing Anna Lena's childhood home in the hills.
The Sea where it goes
The singer is referencing the sea where Anna Lena's life journey will take her.
I may be only
The singer acknowledges their young age.
Five years old
The singer is only five years old.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
charlotte purnell
I love the song
kuroinoto
(Y) this song and this bad !! i love my name <3