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.
Still Selling Shoes
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trees bow to the winds of change
But where is all the dancing
Where is all the dancing?
Where are the comely maidens?
With their hair wraps and braiding
Here we are at a crossroads
And where do we go from here?
Boozy charm will only get you so far
That's a card played by the underdog
With a lamp went cold to our rub
We turned to nurse the tiger cub
Back when Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes..
Now I hear the echo of a thousand hollow welcomes
Surely we can manage a sound one, a sound one
We've long closed Billy's barn doors
'Cos it doesn't rhyme with where the gang goes
Have we forgotten what it's like to go 'cos we did not have
We'd say it loud and with one voice
We didn't really have a choice
But to tear ourselves from this land
And go colonise by sleeping bag
Trojan nag
Back when Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes..
When Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes..
Still selling shoes, still selling shoes, still selling shoes
When Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes
The lyrics of Bell X1's "Still Selling Shoes" paint a picture of a society struggling to adapt to a changing world, and the yearning for the simpler times of the past. The opening lines place us at a crossroads, a metaphor for a defining moment where decisions must be made about the direction of our lives. This is emphasized in the next lines where the trees bow to the winds of change but there is no dancing, no life being lived. This is followed by a question about the whereabouts of the comely maidens, a reference to a simpler, more innocent time. The chorus is a reminder that we cannot rely solely on charm, and that we must face the harsh realities of the world if we are to succeed.
The second verse continues with the theme of change, as the lyrics reference a turning point in the past. The line "Back when Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes" juxtaposes the careers of the famous Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher and the lead singer of Bell X1, Ronan Yourell, highlighting the years of change between their respective careers. The next line, "Now I hear the echo of a thousand hollow welcomes", represents the emptiness that often comes with success and the pressure to perform. The rest of the verse explores the tension between the past and present, with the line "Have we forgotten what it's like to go 'cos we did not have" suggesting that we have lost sight of the freedom that comes from having nothing to lose.
Overall, "Still Selling Shoes" is a song about the universal human struggle to adapt to changing times while staying true to our roots. It urges us to face the challenges of the present, without losing sight of the simpler, more innocent world of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
We are at a crossroads
We are at a turning point in our lives, faced with options that may change our paths.
Trees bow to the winds of change
Nature adapts to evolving circumstances in order to survive.
But where is all the dancing
We seem to be missing the liveliness and energy that should accompany this time of transition.
Where are the comely maidens?
We long for beauty and grace to accompany us on our journey forward.
With their hair wraps and braiding
We seek the feminine qualities of adornment and decoration, which signify care and creativity.
Boozy charm will only get you so far
An excess of charm and charisma will not sustain one's success beyond a certain point.
That's a card played by the underdog
Using charm and wit as a tactic is often adopted by those who feel they are at a disadvantage.
With a lamp went cold to our rub
We lost hope or motivation for our endeavors, causing friction in our lives.
We turned to nurse the tiger cub
We shifted our focus to nurturing something young and potentially powerful, hoping for success through that connection.
Back when Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes..
Remembering simpler times when things were more straightforward, before we became caught up in the complexities of life.
Now I hear the echo of a thousand hollow welcomes
We are met with insincere welcomes, lacking in warmth or depth.
Surely we can manage a sound one, a sound one
We believe that genuine and heartfelt welcomes are still possible and desired.
We've long closed Billy's barn doors
We've shut down or abandoned places or things that would have once held significance or emotional value.
'Cos it doesn't rhyme with where the gang goes
We've moved on from past traditions and customs, rejecting them in favor of current trends or group think.
Have we forgotten what it's like to go 'cos we did not have
We've become complacent and forgetful of the struggles we once faced and the sacrifices we made in the past.
We'd say it loud and with one voice
In unity, we would voice our opinions and demands without hesitation or fear.
We didn't really have a choice
Our circumstances made decisions for us, and we felt helpless in our choices.
But to tear ourselves from this land
We had to depart from what was familiar and comfortable in order to find new opportunities or solutions.
And go colonise by sleeping bag
We sought to explore new territories and establish roots in lands unknown, with meager and modest resources.
Trojan nag
We approached our pursuits with tenacity, resilience and determination, despite obstacles or resistance encountered.
Still selling shoes, still selling shoes, still selling shoes
We are still pursuing the same line of work or mindset as before, without much change or excitement.
When Rory played the blues and Ronan was still selling shoes..
Reflecting on a time when things were simpler and less complicated, before the current struggles and challenges took hold.
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wosebahboy3713
Thank you for downloading this song. I have been looking all over for this.