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.
Rocky
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I drove my soul through the Black Hole!'
She said 'What a wonderful way to wake me
You weren't so nice last night
You're such an asshole when you're drunk'
He said 'At least I'm OK in the mornings'
He said 'The three wise men came a long way
Yeah that one right there'
She said 'I don't believe in any old Jesus
If there was a God, then why is my arse
The perfect height of kicking?'
He said 'I'll shine for you, I'll burn for you
Yea I'll shine for you, that's what I'll do'
He said 'They're like headlights
In the rear view mirror
They're closer that they seem
And from this gutter we're still staring at the stars'
She said 'Would ya go away and shite
Last night all you did was curse those stars
You said they sang to you of hope'
He said 'The sun gives life, and it takes it away
But like all the greats, it'll burn out someday'
She said 'I don't mind, I don't want to get bored
I don't want to end up beached on this shore
I want to be that star'
And then I'll shine for you. Then I'll burn for you.
Then I can shine for you. That's what I'll do.
The lyrics of Bell X1's song "Rocky Took a Lover" depict the conversation between two lovers who seem to have different views on life and its various facets. The song starts with the man saying he wants to shine in the eye of Orion but feels like he has driven his soul through the Black Hole. This could be a metaphor for his desire to stand out and be noticed but his feeling of being lost and drifting away from his goals. The woman seems to be upset with his behavior the previous night and calls him an asshole when he is drunk. He acknowledges his behavior but says that at least he is alright in the mornings.
Later in the song, they discuss religion and the existence of God. The man talks about the three wise men who followed the star and says that he wants to shine like that for the woman. The woman, however, expresses her disbelief in Jesus and questions the logic behind the existence of a God when she is going through difficulties in life. The man promises to shine and burn for her, but the woman seems to be more determined to make it on her own and not get bored with life.
On a deeper level, the song could be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition. The desire to stand out, find meaning in life, and overcome our struggles are all universal themes that the song touches upon. The conversation between the two lovers also highlights how our differing beliefs and worldviews can affect our relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
He said 'I wanna shine in the eye of Orion
But I drove my soul through the Black Hole!'
He wants to be recognized and stand out among the stars but he's made mistakes that have taken a toll on his soul.
She said 'What a wonderful way to wake me
You weren't so nice last night
You're such an asshole when you're drunk'
She's being sarcastic about being woken up by him and reminds him that he was unpleasant and mean when he was drunk.
He said 'At least I'm OK in the mornings'
He's trying to justify his actions by saying that he's not always mean and aggressive, he's better in the mornings.
He said 'The three wise men came a long way
Following that pin hole in the sky
Yeah that one right there'
He's referring to the North Star and how the wise men followed it to reach their destination.
She said 'I don't believe in any old Jesus
If there was a God, then why is my arse
The perfect height of kicking?'
She questions the existence of God by saying if there was, then why does she have to go through difficult situations, as represented by the metaphor of her arse being the perfect height of kicking.
He said 'I'll shine for you, I'll burn for you
Yea I'll shine for you, that's what I'll do'
He promises to do anything to impress her and be recognized by her.
He said 'They're like headlights
In the rear view mirror
They're closer that they seem
And from this gutter we're still staring at the stars'
He's referring to the stars as the headlights and how they appear to be farther away but are actually really close, and even from a low point in life, you can still admire them.
She said 'Would ya go away and shite
Last night all you did was curse those stars
You said they sang to you of hope'
She tells him to leave her alone and reminds him that the previous night, he was negative and cursed the stars despite saying they give him hope.
He said 'The sun gives life, and it takes it away
But like all the greats, it'll burn out someday'
He reflects on the greatness of the sun and its inevitable end.
She said 'I don't mind, I don't want to get bored
I don't want to end up beached on this shore
I want to be that star'
She doesn't want her life to be mundane and wants to stand out as a star.
And then I'll shine for you. Then I'll burn for you.
Then I can shine for you. That's what I'll do.
He repeats his promise to impress and be recognized by her in any way possible.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN PATRICK CROSBY, DAVE BRIAN GERAGHTY, DOMINIC MICHAEL PHILLIPS, PAUL ANTHONY NOONAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kingeatking
This song reminds me of my youth and for that it will forever hold a special place in my heart 🙏
@colinmcpherson5641
1st time I heard this song I loved it...got into Belx1. Got to see Paul Noonan perform an acoustic version with Gemma Hayes & Lisa Hannigan Last week.. on a date with a girl I've liked for a very long time & known for even longer. She leaned on my shoulder during this song and we felt like we were 17 again. Thanks Paul
@kieron1405
I could only ever hum this song, until random youtubing brought me here. YEARS of humming to my friends and them looking at me all crazy, has lead me to FINALLY discover the song again! WOO HOOO!
@dowdallerno1
Lyrics are very good. 👏👍☘️
@puddinmandotcom
one of there best i think, i never get tired listening to it and thats the sign of a great song.
@johnwithero7278
Saw them in Dolans last year! Amazing gig🤘🏻
@square2040
14 years later this song is amazing
@cieraloves7605
Yeah they came out when I was in college at around the same time as snow patrol. Belx1 are way better
@rosscovee1265
Embarrassing but this is the first I’ve heard of these guy. At a loss to explain how! Amazing
@drewjohnjohn
the meaning of the song is brilliant