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.
Nightwatchmen
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My other, my joy
With your oil-drum fire
You were my gentle unfolding
The wool and the dye
The needle and eye
These songs you sing
And the boy smiles
at the wheels of the chair
We are loved for these
things that pass us by
All we're good for
As the sand flows into the hourglass
You hold every grain
That it might remain
Part of me wants to see you crumble
Like those toys on a plinth
Pool of alabaster limbs
Into my arms,
so that I might have my place
Although the crutch may just
serve to dull the only blade
That you brought to this fight
Let's go another round
Let's go another round
To the girl among nightwatchmen
The long fingers of morning
Will take you by the hand
Precious stones,
they're all spoken for
You've chosen the tunes,
Everything is just so, just so
And now birdsong,
ice clinking in the sun
Dripfeed
Of gentle talk
and pleasantries
And I wait for a gap in the traffic
To tell her I'll always hold you close
It's all I'm good for
The Bell X1’s song Nightwatchmen is a story about a girl who is seen among nightwatchmen, and the lyrics are an ode to her. The song appears to be about a lost relationship or a hidden love. It appears that the boy who sings has lost this girl, and the lyrics emphasize the various things he loved about her. The girl among the nightwatchmen was his joy, and she unfolded him gently like wool and dye, needle and eye. She brought warmth and light into his world with her oil-drum fire, and her songs that she sang while waltzing up the stairs among the nightwatchmen.
Despite the girl's absence, the singer still holds her dear. In his arms, he wants to crumble her like the toys on a plinth, into a pool of alabaster limbs. Though he is aware that this may not be wise and that it may only serve to dull the blade she had brought into their fight. The lyrics vividly capture the memories and the love he had for her, but he knows that everything just passes us by, and all they’re good for is the love they shared in those moments. As the sand flows into the hourglass, he holds onto each grain that remains, and he waits for a chance to tell her that he will always hold her close.
Line by Line Meaning
To the girl among nightwatchmen
This song is addressed to a girl who is among the nightwatchmen, likely someone who stands out in that crowd.
My other, my joy
The girl is referred to as the singer's other and his joy, emphasizing how important she is to him.
With your oil-drum fire
This line could refer to the girl's energy or passionate spirit, like a fire burning within an oil drum.
You were my gentle unfolding
The girl has played a role in helping the singer open up or become more vulnerable.
The wool and the dye
This phrase may be a metaphor for the way in which the girl has made the singer feel more colorful or lively.
The needle and eye
This could represent the girl's ability to help the singer focus or see things more clearly.
These songs you sing
The girl is known for singing these songs, which the singer associates with her.
as you waltz her up the stairs
The girl may be dancing or moving with someone else as she sings.
And the boy smiles
Someone else (likely a boy) is smiling, perhaps enjoying the song and dance.
at the wheels of the chair
The boy is specifically smiling at the wheels of a chair, which may be moving as part of the dance.
We are loved for these things that pass us by
The line may suggest that the singer and the girl are loved for the fleeting moments of beauty or joy that they create together.
All we're good for
The previous line is connected to this one, implying that this is what the singer and the girl are good for - creating little moments of happiness.
As the sand flows into the hourglass
This line may be a metaphor for the passage of time and how it affects relationships.
You hold every grain
The girl is holding onto every moment, cherishing it and making it last as long as possible.
That it might remain
The girl is trying to make every moment last, hoping that they will somehow stay together forever.
Part of me wants to see you crumble
The singer has a conflicting desire - on one hand, he wants the girl to be happy and successful, but on the other hand, he is possessive or selfish and wants her to be vulnerable, even if it means being unhappy.
Like those toys on a plinth
This line could be an allusion to a display of toys on a platform, which are meant to be looked at but not touched or played with, highlighting how the singer wants the girl to be vulnerable and exposed rather than untouchable.
Pool of alabaster limbs
This image could refer to the girl's beauty or perfection, which the singer finds intimidating or overwhelming.
Into my arms,
The singer wants the girl to be with him, safely held in his embrace.
so that I might have my place
The singer is selfish and wants the girl to be with him because he wants to feel important or validated.
Although the crutch may just
This line could refer to the fact that the singer may not be able to help the girl in any practical way.
serve to dull the only blade
The girl may have a 'blade' or strength that helps her get through difficult times, but the singer's 'crutch' (help) may actually make it harder for her to use that blade.
That you brought to this fight
The girl may be involved in some kind of struggle or conflict, and the singer wants to help her but may not know how.
Let's go another round
The singer is asking to fight again, either literally or metaphorically, with the girl by his side.
The long fingers of morning
This phrase paints an image of the sun rising and moving across the sky.
Will take you by the hand
The girl will be guided or led by the passage of time, as the morning turns into day.
Precious stones, they're all spoken for
This phrase could mean that all the best things (like precious stones) are already taken or spoken for by someone else.
You've chosen the tunes,
The girl has chosen her own path or destiny, and the singer is admiring her for her independence and strength.
Everything is just so, just so
The girl has everything in perfect order, or perhaps she is trying to create order from chaos.
And now birdsong, ice clinking in the sun
The singer is describing the sounds of the morning as he watches the girl leave.
Dripfeed
This word could refer to a slow, steady conversation or interaction between people.
Of gentle talk and pleasantries
The singer is experiencing a polite conversation, probably with someone else instead of the girl.
And I wait for a gap in the traffic
The singer is waiting for a chance to speak with the girl again, maybe realizing that he needs her more than he thought he did.
To tell her I'll always hold you close
The singer wants the girl to know that he cares about her deeply and wants to be with her.
It's all I'm good for
The singer may be admitting that this is the only thing he knows how to do - love someone deeply.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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