The Bells
From Indian Lakes Lyrics
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I was afraid that you would see my face
and ask me where I've been
And I wait for something to begin
but I'm getting older and
my days are wearing oh, so thin.
To the creek where we fell in again
and I pulled you in as well.
but I don't think I could've learned to swim
without you there to keep my head up
long enough to breath the air that you breathed too.
To the church where I cast out my sins
they said I could wash my feet,
but never walk again.
And we sit in the same seat every Sunday
but I couldn't hear a single word they said
while your hand is barely, barely touching mine.
Mmmmmmm
And I woke up in your room alone
I must have drifted off just staring at your clothes
Is he yours or is it someone else's now?
No matter the days away
I'll keep it ready
waiting for the day that you come home.
Mmm
The lyrics of From Indian Lakes' song "The Bells" depict a man who is walking home and afraid of being seen by someone. He expresses his feeling of time running out as he's getting older while waiting for something to happen. The man then recounts memories of falling into the creek with a person by his side. He thanks this person because they helped him learn to swim by keeping his head up long enough to breathe the same air. The next verse talks about how the man went to a church to seek forgiveness and wash his feet but is still stuck sitting in the same seat. Despite being there with a person who he’s attracted to, he can't hear the words being said as their hands barely touch. The song ends with the man waking up in someone else's clothes and waiting for the person he cares about to come home.
Line by Line Meaning
And I walk the long way home again
I take the longer route home because I'm afraid you'll see me, and I don't want to explain where I've been.
I was afraid that you would see my face
I'm scared of facing you and revealing where I've been and what I've been up to.
And ask me where I've been
I don't want to disclose where I've been spending my time out of fear of judgment and scrutiny.
And I wait for something to begin
I'm waiting for something new and promising to unfold in my life.
But I'm getting older and my days are wearing oh, so thin.
My life is passing me by, and I feel like I'm running out of time.
To the creek where we fell in again
I revisit the spot where we both fell in love.
But I fell in again and I pulled you in as well
I fell in love with you all over again and brought you with me.
But I don't think I could've learned to swim without you there to keep my head up long enough to breathe the air that you breathed too.
I don't think I could have made it through life without your support and encouragement, your presence kept me afloat through difficult times.
To the church where I cast out my sins
I seek redemption and absolution from my sins in church.
They said I could wash my feet, but never walk again.
Though I could have cleansed my feet, my sins still weighed me down, stopping me from progressing.
And we sit in the same seat every Sunday
I attend church with you every Sunday and sit next to you in the same spot.
But I couldn't hear a single word they said
I'm physically present in church but lost in thought, so I don't pay attention to the sermon.
While your hand is barely, barely touching mine.
Our hands are touching, providing me with comfort in this holy place.
And I woke up in your room alone
I wake up in your room by myself, missing your presence.
I must have drifted off just staring at your clothes
I must have dozed off while looking at your clothes, missing you more and more.
Is he yours or is it someone else's now?
I wonder if someone else claimed your heart after me, or if you still hold onto it.
No matter the days away, I'll keep it ready, waiting for the day that you come home.
No matter how long you stay away from me, I'll be waiting for you with open arms, always ready to take you back.
Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.