But while Waits' early life was tumultuous to say the least, that voice managed to prevail, and on her self-titled debut for the Radarproof label, we are shown why we are all the better for it. Just as capable of singing a torch song as getting down and dirty with the blues, Waits tackles a combination of covers and originals on her CD with passion that really should be displayed more in the music business.
Her choices for covers are as curious when one sees them listed on the CD cover as they are ultimately appropriate, once they have been heard. Tom Waits' "Get Behind the Mule," sizzles with mischief when the female Waits works her magic on it. Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells," a criminally overlooked track from his excellent "Oh Mercy" CD, is given beautifully reverent treatment by Waits, as is the Billie Holiday standard, "Yesterdays."
Just wait until you hear the longing in Waits' voice when she tackles Ray Charles' "Drown in My Own Tears." Among the originals, the song "The Ballad of Judith Anne" is the most intriguing.
Also good is "Ignatius," which closes out the CD.
Ring Thembells
Hope Waits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the city that dreams,
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
Cross the valleys and streams,
For they're deep and they're wide
And the world's on its side
And time is running backwards
And so is the bride.
Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow,
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know.
Oh it's rush hour now
on the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow.
Ring them bells Sweet Martha,
For the poor man's son,
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one.
Oh the shepherd is asleep
where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep.
Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf,
Ring them bells for all of us who are left,
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through.
Ring them bells, for the time that flies,
For the child that cries
When innocence dies.
Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room,
Ring them from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom.
Oh the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they're breaking down the distance
Between right and wrong.
The lyrics of "Ring Them Bells" by Hope Waits carry a profound message about the state of the world we live in. The song urges people to ring bells from the city that dreams, sanctuaries across valleys and streams, and even St. Peter's, where the four winds blow, to signify the chaos and disorder prevailing in the world. The lyrics reveal that the world is on its side, and time is running backward, much like the bride.
The song further asks for the bells to be rung for the poor man's son and to make the world aware that God is one. The shepherd is asleep, and the mountains are filled with lost sheep. The song carries a suggestive tone that we are lost and need guidance, and we must be awakened to the truth. It is a call to action for the people to come together, bringing a change in the world, and to fight against the distance that separates right from wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Ring them bells, you heathen
Call out with bells, even if you are not a follower of a particular religion
From the city that dreams,
From the place where anything seems possible
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
Ring bells from the places of worship
Cross the valleys and streams,
Let the sound carry over mountains and rivers
For they're deep and they're wide
The issues in the world are complex and far-reaching
And the world's on its side
The world is out of balance
And time is running backwards
It feels like time is moving in the opposite direction
And so is the bride.
And so is the world, in a state of chaos
Ring them bells St. Peter
Call out with bells in the name of a religious figure
Where the four winds blow,
Wherever the winds of change may take us
Ring them bells with an iron hand
Ring the bells in a forceful way
So the people will know.
So that people will take notice
Oh it's rush hour now
This is a busy and hectic time
On the wheel and the plow
In the fields, working with the land
And the sun is going down
The day is coming to an end
Upon the sacred cow.
Upon the things that are meant to be respected and cherished
Ring them bells Sweet Martha,
Ring the bells in honor of a person
For the poor man's son,
For those who are not born into privilege
Ring them bells so the world will know
Ring the bells to make a statement to the world
That God is one.
That there is only one deity
Oh the shepherd is asleep
The ones who are supposed to lead are not actively leading
Where the willows weep
In a place of sadness and mourning
And the mountains are filled
And there are many obstacles to overcome
With lost sheep.
With those who are wandering aimlessly
Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf,
Ring the bells in honor of those who are marginalized
Ring them bells for all of us who are left,
Ring the bells for those who remain in this world
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Ring the bells in honor of those who are selected
Who will judge the many when the game is through.
Who will be given the task of determining the outcome
Ring them bells, for the time that flies,
Ring the bells to acknowledge the passing of time
For the child that cries
For those who are suffering and in need of comfort
When innocence dies.
When something pure is lost
Ring them bells St. Catherine
Ring the bells in honor of another religious figure
From the top of the room,
From the highest point of the space
Ring them from the fortress
Ring the bells from a place of safety and strength
For the lilies that bloom.
For the beauty that exists in the world
Oh the lines are long
The path to progress is often difficult and takes time
And the fighting is strong
There are many obstacles and resistance to overcome
And they're breaking down the distance
And they are working to bridge the gap
Between right and wrong.
Between what is just and what is not
Contributed by Ethan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TEJENDRIX
hermoso cover y hermosa voz, si subís mas vídeos nos podremos deleitar con tu arte, un cálido abrazo desde Argentina!
Joao Pedro Lago
Beautiful song and version!
Greg Rock
Beautiful vocal, great band!
Louis Rodrigues
Oh, I love Sunday afternoon gigs. Nothing like jammin' on an impulse. I swear I could hear a harmonica in the background. Thanks for this great upload Mr. Waits. Keep em' comin'. And please, please, please try and make a video of 'Ignatius' and 'Ring them Bells'. These are my all-time favorites from your first album. Thank you :)
Gr Folk Fest
loved it.
john doe
Great!!!
Jomateix
en directe devia ser meravellós, la qualitat de la gravació del àudio es millorable,
Javier Gentile
AHHHHHHHHH.. the singer is the best... rest is the BESTIA...mon dieu
Pablo Stuf
👏👏👏👏🍻🍻
Sun Gazer
nice to see u rollin out the videos :)