Sister Isabelle
Del Shannon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Far off in the distance I can hear the bells
Inside the church, there stands a girl I knew so well
As I get closer I can feel the chill
She's changing her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle

Isabelle, can you hear the words I say?
Isabelle, can you hear me while a-frame?
I can still remember the night she said goodbye
She said we'll meet again someday in a place under the new sky
But why have I stopped singing? I no longer hear the bells
She's changed her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle

Isabelle, am I really, really gonna lose you?
Isabelle, does he need you more than I do?

Isabelle, am I really gonna lose you?
Isabelle, does he need you more than I do?

Isabelle, no, no, Isabelle




Isabelle, no, no, Isabelle
Isabelle, am I really gonna lose you?

Overall Meaning

Del Shannon’s song Sister Isabelle tells the story of a man who has returned to a familiar church to revisit his past and the woman he loved. As the lyrics of the song unfold, the man hears the church bells ringing in the distance as he approaches the church. When he enters the church, he immediately recognizes a girl he once knew, Laura, who has now changed her name to Sister Isabelle.


The singer of the song, referred to only as “I,” is coming to terms with the fact that he has lost the person he loved. He remembers the night they said their goodbyes, an emotional moment where Laura promised they would meet someday under a new sky. But now, as he stands in the church, he realizes that Sister Isabelle, the girl he loved, has left him behind to dedicate herself to a higher power, and he wonders if he will ever see her again.


The song is poignant and melancholy, exploring the themes of loss and the fleeting nature of love. It speaks to the heartbreak of letting go of something we hold dear and the pain of moving on after a love has been lost.


Line by Line Meaning

Far off in the distance I can hear the bells
I can hear the church bells from far away


Inside the church, there stands a girl I knew so well
A girl he knows is now inside the church


As I get closer I can feel the chill
He feels a coldness as he gets closer


She's changing her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle
She is becoming a nun and changing her name


Isabelle, can you hear the words I say?
He wonders if she can hear him


Isabelle, can you hear me while a-frame?
He is asking if she can hear him when he prays


I can still remember the night she said goodbye
He remembers the night she left


She said we'll meet again someday in a place under the new sky
She promised they'd meet again in heaven


But why have I stopped singing? I no longer hear the bells
He's wondering why he feels numb and can't hear the church bells


She's changed her name from Laura to Sister Isabelle
The girl he knew is now known as Sister Isabelle


Isabelle, am I really, really gonna lose you?
He fears losing her forever


Isabelle, does he need you more than I do?
He wonders if God needs her more than he does


Isabelle, no, no, Isabelle
He addresses her by name in desperation


Isabelle, am I really gonna lose you?
He repeats his fear of losing her




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN HYLAND, DEL SHANNON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Joe Postove

Wow..from 1970. And Del was every bit as powerful in his writing and singing as 1962. Great track!

Terry Cullen

Great song, ROCK ON DEL.

ThePurpleUFO

Who else would write a song about being in love with a nun??? No one...except Del Shannon!!! GREAT SONG!!!!!!

ramblin man

Thanks for posting this rare track.. Its just one of a few really good songs Del wrote with Brian Hyland between 1968 & 1970 for the Dunhill label.... Only 4 were released at the time on 2 singles - "Sister Isabelle", "Comin Back To Me" & the 2 B sides - "Colorado Rain" & "Sweet Mary Lou"... All great songs..

bayswaterjames

rare song indeed, thanks for posting

cometclear

Great song.

Jonathan Roberts

The ultimate “I lost her to another man” song.

Carl Rennhack

@vaguemartin Talk about finding Mr. Right...

vaguemartin

The big man :)

Paul Joseph

Jonathan Roberts Yes to a vocation

More Comments

More Versions