Bell began to concentrate on solo work after leaving Big Star, recording demos at Ardent Studios and Shoe Recording in Memphis with old friends including Richard Rosebrough, Terry Manning, Bill Cunningham, Ken Woodley, and occasionally Chilton and Jim Dickinson. During the late 1970s, a few of Bell's pop song lyrics began to evince influences from his newfound interest in Christian spirituality. He worked at his father's restaurant as he grappled with clinical depression. Although he released the single in 1978, none of his solo material was released on a full length album during his lifetime.
Bell died in December 1978 when he lost control of his small Triumph sports car, sometime after 1 a.m. on the morning of the 27th, on his way home from Ardent Studios. The car struck a wooden light pole on the side of the road, killing him instantly. His funeral was held the next day, December 28th, the birthday of former bandmate Chilton.
Bell's music and that of Big Star became popular with alternative rock musicians in the 1980s through word of mouth. Well known artists including R.E.M. and The Replacements began touting the recordings of Big Star as significant works. Finally, almost 14 years after his death, the songs from his Car Records single and several of his other 1970s recordings were released on 1992's I Am the Cosmos full-length CD on Rykodisc.
Speed of Sound
Chris Bell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you loved me
I waited all weekend
You never called me
So you find him attractive
So what if he is
You'd like some excitement
You could count his same kiss
On and on
My love grows
And yours is gone
A lonely existence
Well it's just a lie
If there is a reason
I'd like to know why
Something I want you to know
I've told you this once before
Don't want you to see him no more
Once again
You've let me down
Broke my heart
And turned me round
There's a light in the darkness
It doesn't seem far
Is something the matter
The plane goes down
Will not land
Pilot's dead
Nowhere to be found
The lyrics of Chris Bell's "Speed of Sound" tell a story of a person who is deeply hurt by the betrayal of their lover. The singer starts by recalling the first time their lover told them they loved them and how they waited in anticipation for their call all weekend, which never came. They then express their frustration towards their lover finding someone else attractive and seeking excitement from them. The chorus paints a picture of a one-sided love, where the singer's love grows while theirs fades away. The bridge follows with the singer trying to warn their lover about seeing their new attraction and begs them not to see them anymore. The song ends with an ominous tone, with a plane crash leaving the pilot dead and nowhere to be found.
Overall, the lyrics convey the desperation and heartbreak of unrequited love. The singer is left alone, questioning why their lover left them for someone else.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded in 1975 but remained unreleased until 1992, almost 20 years after Chris Bell's death. Another notable fact is that Bell was a member of the band Big Star, a group that influenced many popular bands like the Foo Fighters and R.E.M. "Speed of Sound" is also featured in the movie "Adventureland" and the TV show "Lodge 49". Additionally, it has been covered by several artists, including Wilco.
The chords for "Speed of Sound" are:
Verse: G - D - Em - C
Chorus: G - D - Em - C
Bridge: Am - D - Em - C
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the first time
The singer recalls the moment when his lover first confessed love to him.
You said you loved me
The singer's lover confessed her love for him.
I waited all weekend
The singer waited the entire weekend for his lover to call him.
You never called me
The lover did not call the singer.
So you find him attractive
The singer's lover is attracted to someone else.
So what if he is
The singer is dismissive of his lover's attraction to someone else.
You'd like some excitement
The singer's lover is looking for more excitement in her life.
You could count his same kiss
The singer's lover is not particularly impressed with the person she finds attractive.
So it goes
The situation continues in the same way.
On and on
The situation is ongoing and never-ending.
My love grows
The singer's love for his lover continues to grow.
And yours is gone
The singer's lover no longer feels the same way about him.
A lonely existence
The singer is lonely and unhappy in this situation.
Well it's just a lie
The singer has come to realize that his lover doesn't really love him.
If there is a reason
The singer wants to know why his lover no longer loves him.
I'd like to know why
The singer is seeking answers to his questions.
Something I want you to know
The singer has something important that he wants to tell his lover.
I've told you this once before
The singer has previously tried to communicate with his lover about this issue.
Don't want you to see him no more
The singer does not want his lover to continue seeing the person she finds attractive.
Once again
The situation has happened before.
You've let me down
The singer's lover has disappointed him.
Broke my heart
The singer's lover has hurt him deeply.
And turned me round
The singer has been emotionally affected by the situation.
There's a light in the darkness
Despite the challenges, there is hope.
It doesn't seem far
The hope is within reach.
Is something the matter
The situation seems unusual, and the singer is concerned.
The plane goes down
A drastic event occurs.
Will not land
The situation is unresolved.
Pilot's dead
The singer is dealing with a tragedy.
Nowhere to be found
The tragedy seems to have no resolution.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ethereal Catholic2
Chris was an amazing songwriter who would've had a career 5 yrs after these sessions had he lived. One of the more tragic stories of pop culture.
Requiescant in Pace Christopher Bell.
David Aikman
Haven't listened to this song in quite some time. Probably about 5 years or so anyway. It's hauntingly beautiful
Arthur Hedges
David Aikman just a 4 year reminder for ya. Enjoy...again.
Baci302
What an incredibly beautiful song. The use of the mandolin and the mellotron is genius.
TavTikRik
This song gives me chills. You can feel the music. That's just me.
Anophis
I'm not so much into the execution of the song as a whole but the lyrics are brutal. Love it. I can feel the sorrow in me.
B0NZ0D0G1
this whole album is soooo far ahead of it's time. I LOVE this album!!!
Ethereal Catholic2
Sounds like REM 6 yrs before "Murmur."
David Nin
"So it goes
on and on
my love grows
and yours is gone"
so simple, yet so deep
Fabio Albanese
One of my fav 27 clubbers and a real genius. God bless you, Chris.