Musical influences include Antonio Carlos Jobim and Keith Jarrett.
If I Were a Bell
Carol Welsman Lyrics
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Now that we're cosy and clinging,
Well sir, all I can say is
If I were a bell I'd be ringing!
From the moment we kissed goodnight,
That's the way I just gotta behave,
And if I were a lamp I'd light,
Ask me how do I feel,
Little me with my quiet upbringing,
Well sir, all I can say is
If I were a gate I'd be swinging!
And if I were a watch,
I'd start popping my spring,
Oh, and if I were a bell
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
Ask me how do I feel
From this chemistry lesson I'm learning,
Well sir, all I can say is
If I were a bridge I'd be burning!
Well, I knew my moral would crack
From the wonderful way you looked,
Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack,
Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked!
Ask me how do I feel
Now that we're fondly caressing,
And if I were a salad,
I know I'd be splashing my dressing!
Or if I were a season,
I'd surely be Spring,
Yes, and if I were a bell,
Say, if I were a bell,
If I were a bell
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
The lyrics of Carol Welsman's song "If I Were a Bell" describe a sense of excitement and enthusiasm at being in love. The singer is asked how they feel about being "cosy and clinging" with someone, and responds by saying that if they were a bell, they would be ringing. This metaphor suggests that the singer is filled with joy and a sense of celebration, as if the sound of bells ringing would be the perfect representation of their emotional state.
Throughout the rest of the song, this sense of joy and excitement is conveyed through a series of playful metaphors. The singer imagines themselves as a lamp lighting up, a banner waving, a gate swinging, and a watch popping its spring. They also suggest that they are learning a "chemistry lesson" from their experience of being in love, and that they would be willing to burn bridges and risk their morals for the sake of their partner. These metaphors all suggest a feeling of endless possibility and adventure, as if the singer is willing to go to any lengths to pursue their feelings for their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Ask me how do I feel,
Inquire how I am emotionally doing,
Now that we're cosy and clinging,
Now that we're intimate and affectionate,
Well sir, all I can say is
Well, my response is,
If I were a bell I'd be ringing!
I'd be overcome with happiness and excitement!
From the moment we kissed goodnight,
Since we had that goodnight kiss,
That's the way I just gotta behave,
It's how I'm compelled to act,
And if I were a lamp I'd light,
I'd radiate with joy like a lamp,
Or if I were a banner I'd wave!
I'd enthusiastically flutter like a banner!
Little me with my quiet upbringing,
I, with my modest upbringing,
If I were a gate I'd be swinging!
Would be opening and closing like a gate with glee!
And if I were a watch,
If I were a timepiece,
I'd start popping my spring,
I'd be wound so tight my spring would pop!
Oh, and if I were a bell
Furthermore, if I were a bell,
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
I'd be joyfully ringing incessantly!
From this chemistry lesson I'm learning,
From this love affair I'm developing,
Well sir, all I can say is
Well, my reaction is,
If I were a bridge I'd be burning!
I'd be overcome with passion and desire!
Well, I knew my moral would crack
I knew my fidelity would weaken,
From the wonderful way you looked,
From the wonderful way you appeared,
Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack,
I'd be exclaiming excitement like a duck!
Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked!
I'd be captured by the thrill like a cooked goose!
Now that we're fondly caressing,
Now that we're affectionately touching,
And if I were a salad,
And if I were a type of food,
I know I'd be splashing my dressing!
I know I'd be exuberantly expressing my delight!
Or if I were a season,
Or if I represented a time of year,
I'd surely be Spring,
I'd certainly be associated with Spring!
Yes, and if I were a bell,
Indeed, if I were a bell,
Say, if I were a bell,
Imagine, if I were a bell,
If I were a bell
If I were a bell,
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
I'd be resonating ecstatically!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Frank Loesser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind