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.
The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he thought if I could only make her smile
Then she'd be mine
He'd folded it, re-folded it so many times
He'd already lost some of her to the creases
Precious pieces
He wondered how close he'd ever been to her
Maybe she got the same bus
And he left a trail of string wherever he went
When he was sleepin' he tied it to his toe
If she crossed it then he'd know
But he knew that all was unravelin'
And he was bare, stripped of his skin
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
Stickin' out of a bin
He's pull his collar up against the wind
Against those who said that tryin'
Was the first step to failin', oh, he was railin'
And filled with new found purpose and pride
He'd make somethin' of this heady glow
Now where would she go?
But what do I know 'cause all is unravelin'
And he was bare, stripped off his skin
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
Stickin' out of a bin
But he knew how to fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza
With time's great elixir, dear Liza, dear Liza
She was only just a girl in a picture
But he thought if I could only make her smile
Then she'd be mine
Oh, the thought of being faced with her
Gave him the fear and sometimes in the mornin' a tent
Oh Lord, give him strength
'Cause he knew that all was unravelin'
And he was bare, he was stripped of his skin
Yeah, he knew that all was unravelin'
And he was bare, he was stripped of his skin
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
Stickin' out of a bin
Stickin' out of a bin
Stickin' out of a bin
Stickin' out of a bin
The lyrics of Bell X1's song "The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella" tells the story of a man who hopes to win over a girl by making her smile, despite never having spoken to her before. He obsesses over her, folding and re-folding her picture so many times that some creases become permanent. He wonders how close they may have been before, perhaps even taking the same bus as her. He ties a string to his toe to see if she crosses it, as a possible sign that fate is bringing them together.
However, the man realizes that everything is falling apart, and he feels vulnerable and exposed. He perseveres nonetheless, trying to fix his situation and make something of the opportunity he has been presented with. The use of the metaphor of broken umbrella ribs sticking out of a bin describes how he feels. The lyrics suggest that, despite his optimism and motivation, he may not succeed in his pursuit of the girl, and that he may be better off moving on.
Overall, the song talks about hope, perseverance, and the possibility of love, but also about the inevitability of disappointment and the necessity to carry on despite setbacks.
Line by Line Meaning
She was only just a girl in a picture
He saw a photo of a girl and was enamored with her.
But he thought if I could only make her smile
He believed that if he could make her happy, she would fall in love with him.
Then she'd be mine
He had romantic feelings for the girl in the photo.
He'd folded it, re-folded it so many times
He had looked at the photo of the girl numerous times.
He'd already lost some of her to the creases
The repeated folding of the photo had started to damage it.
Precious pieces
The photo was important to him, even though it was becoming damaged.
He wondered how close he'd ever been to her
He wondered if he had ever been physically in the same place as her before.
In this ebb and flow of the distance between us
He was reflecting on the distance between him and the girl who he missed.
Maybe she got the same bus
He considered the possibility that they may have taken the same bus.
And he left a trail of string wherever he went
He was trying to find a way to locate the girl and left a trail of string behind him.
When he was sleepin' he tied it to his toe
He was so determined to find the girl that he tied the string to his toe so he wouldn't miss if she crossed it.
If she crossed it then he'd know
If the string was moved or disturbed, he would know that the girl was nearby.
But he knew that all was unravelin'
He realized that his pursuit of the girl was not going as planned.
And he was bare, stripped of his skin
He felt vulnerable in his pursuit of the girl, and as though he had lost part of himself.
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
He felt as though he was a useless object that had been cast aside and forgotten.
Stickin' out of a bin
He felt discarded and unwanted.
He's pull his collar up against the wind
Rather than giving up, he was determined to continue his pursuit despite the odds against him.
Against those who said that tryin'
There were people who told him he was wasting his time pursuing the girl, but he was determined to prove them wrong.
Was the first step to failin', oh, he was railin'
He was angry and frustrated that people were trying to discourage him from continuing his pursuit.
And filled with new found purpose and pride
He found a renewed sense of purpose and determination in his pursuit of the girl.
He'd make somethin' of this heady glow
He was optimistic that he could turn his feelings for the girl into something positive.
Now where would she go?
He wondered where the girl was and if he would ever find her.
But he knew how to fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza
He believed that he could solve his problem and find the girl.
With time's great elixir, dear Liza, dear Liza
He believed that if he waited long enough, he would eventually find the girl.
Oh, the thought of being faced with her
He was nervous about meeting the girl in person.
Gave him the fear and sometimes in the mornin' a tent
Thinking about meeting the girl made him anxious, to the point where he couldn't sleep properly.
Oh Lord, give him strength
He asked for divine intervention to help him overcome his nerves and anxiety.
He knew that all was unravelin'
He became aware that his pursuit of the girl was likely to fail.
And he was bare, he was stripped of his skin
He felt like he was losing himself in his pursuit of the girl.
Yeah, he knew that all was unravelin'
He was aware that his pursuit of the girl was doomed to fail.
Like the ribs of a broken umbrella
He felt useless and discarded, like an object that had been broken and thrown away.
Stickin' out of a bin
He felt forgotten and rejected.
Stickin' out of a bin
He was left alone with his thoughts.
Stickin' out of a bin
He was left to pick up the pieces.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE BRIAN GERAGHTY, DOMINIC MICHAEL PHILLIPS, PAUL ANTHONY NOONAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Sharry
sublime, lyrically brilliant, a great great song
Charlie B Valdez
Cool video! So dig you guys! Heard for the first time today and I'm in! Thanks for the awesome tunes.
goombamakker n
Brilliant tune. He has a really good voice!
cocalero
I simply love this song
niamhdowling
I love Bell X1 and I love stop motion animation. That video's adorable, so cool.
david smith
its a sledgehammer of a video 😉
Fíona Sheridan
i love the music video, it's really well done!
emmettjarlath
Seeing them tonight in Killarney!!! Third time seeing them now!!! They're so good live
Kinners
Amazing and what a song !
moynanc
Unreal video lads-fair play! What a tune!