The title references Ernest Hemingway’s 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American engaged in guerrilla warfare during the Spanish Civil War. As a dynamite, he is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack. The novel centers on the idea of death and suicide, both of which James explores in these lyrics—"I have no one, I’m lonely, my bridges have burnt down."
Hemingway got the title from “Meditation XVII,” a 1642 poem by metaphysical poet John Donne. The line he quotes reads: “And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”
The track (and thus the album) begins with the sound of a cassette tape being inserted into a player. As Cole reveals on the closing and title track of the album, the majority of the project was recorded with the purpose of telling the story of Cole’s lost friend James to the daughter he left behind. At the close of the song’s first verse, James asks Cole to “play this tape for my daughter.” Ultimately, the final track ends with the sound of an ejecting cassette tape, suggesting that Cole dutifully has fulfilled his friend’s wish.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see the, I see the
I see the rain pouring down
Before my very eyes
Should come as no surprise
I see the, I see the rain pouring down
Before my very eyes
Should come as no surprise
I'm searching and praying and hoping for something
I know I'm gon' see it, I know that it's coming
Lord, Lord
But what do you do when there's no place to turn?
I have no one, I'm lonely, my bridges have burnt down
Lord, Lord
The bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
I don't know, I don't know
Bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
I don't know, I don't know
Bells gettin' louder, louder
I see the rain pouring down
In J. Cole's song For Whom the Bell Tolls, the artist describes his struggles with loneliness, hopelessness, and depression. The song is a reflection of his own inner turmoil and search for meaning in life. The first verse talks about the rain pouring down, representing the struggles and obstacles that he faces. He says that it should come as no surprise since he knew that these difficulties were going to come. This reflects the inevitability of pain and hardship in life and how we must learn to overcome them.
In the second verse, J. Cole talks about how he is searching, praying, and hoping for something that he knows is coming. This represents his desire for a better life and a brighter future. However, he says that he has no one and that his bridges have burnt down, meaning that he has burnt all his bridges, and there is nowhere to turn. This is a reflection of his loneliness and isolation, leading him to search for answers in life.
As the song progresses, the bells start getting louder, and J. Cole says that there is nowhere to hide and nowhere to go. He puts away his pride and expresses his tiredness of feeling low, even when he's high. He questions whether he wants to die and says that he does not know. This shows the struggles of an individual in search of hope, fighting mental demons, and struggling with isolation.
Overall, For Whom the Bell Tolls is a deeply introspective song that reflects J. Cole's personal struggles with inner demons. It touches on topics such as hopelessness, depression, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life. The song's slow tempo, combined with J. Cole's raw and emotional vocals, further underscore its gravity.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the, I see the
I am acknowledging that I am seeing something.
I see the rain pouring down
I see a metaphorical manifestation of my inner turmoil and sadness.
Before my very eyes
I am experiencing this rain and pain in the present moment.
Should come as no surprise
I shouldn't be shocked by this pain or the circumstances that led me here.
I'm searching and praying and hoping for something
I am actively seeking a solution or a way out of my current situation.
I know I'm gon' see it, I know that it's coming
I have faith that my search will yield a solution and I will see it in due time.
But what do you do when there's no place to turn?
I am faced with a difficult situation where I cannot find any solution or anyone to turn to.
I have no one, I'm lonely, my bridges have burnt down
I am alone and isolated, with no social or emotional support, and any relationships I had in the past are now ruined.
The bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
I am feeling overwhelmed and trapped with no escape from the pain and the ringing of these metaphorical 'bells.'
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
I have no options or avenues to escape this pain and I must set aside my pride to seek help or a solution from others.
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Even when I try to distract myself from the pain and sadness, I am unable to feel true happiness or joy.
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
This life of pain and suffering is not sustainable or acceptable, and I am questioning whether I want to die or not.
I don't know, I don't know
I am unsure and conflicted about what I want to do or how I can find a way out of this pain.
Bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
The pain and the metaphorical 'bells' of my sadness and suffering are becoming louder and more unbearable, leaving me with no place to hide or escape.
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
I still have no options or solutions to escape this pain, and I must continue to put aside my pride to seek help from others.
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
The pain and sadness are still present even in moments of supposed 'happiness.'
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
The life of pain and suffering is still unsustainable and I am still questioning whether I want to continue living or not.
I don't know, I don't know
I am still unsure and conflicted about what to do or how to escape this pain and suffering.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Shapiro Bernstein & Co Inc, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jermaine Cole
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spamassist
[Intro]
I see the, I see the—
I see the, I see the—
I see the rain
Pouring down
Before my very eyes
Should come as no surprise
I see the, I see the rain
Pouring down, uh
Before my very eyes
Should come as no surprise
[Verse]
I'm searching and praying and hoping for something
I know I'm gon' see it, I know that it's coming
Lord, huh
Lord, huh
But what do you do when there's no place to turn?
I have no one, I'm lonely, my bridges have burnt down
Lord
Lord
[Chorus]
The bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
I don't know, I don't know
Bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
I don't know, I don't know
[Outro]
Bells gettin' louder, louder
I see the rain
Pouring down
@nikkomccarroll8919
[Verse]
I'm searching and praying and hoping for something
I know I'm gon' see it, I know that it's coming
Lord, huh
Lord, huh
But what do you do when there's no place to turn?
I have no one, I'm lonely, my bridges have burnt down
Lord
Lord
@nikkomccarroll8919
[Chorus]
The bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
I don't know, I don't know
Bells getting loud, ain't nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to go, put away my pride
Tired of feeling low even when I'm high
Ain't no way to live, do I wanna die?
I don't know, I don't know
@lovefancy
This song is underrated masterpiece!
It’s about depression and the impact of solitude on mental health (as I understand it). So Cole decided to use John’s poem to show just how the desire to end it all grows with time, as the bells get louder.
I go back to this song every time I hear of someone’s death. Because for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for all of us.
@VikingShip-lw4oo
Fr
@mynan5360
This is dope in a way that we’re all the same nobodies really different we’ll have our time
@VikingShip-lw4oo
@@mynan5360 100
@eliaz3520
Awesome perspective
@eliaz3520
@@mynan5360 you could also look at it as we’re all someone’s living in some time at some location. All carrying value and burdens as we strive to live within the poetic sequence of life. Living to eventually perish and embedding our lives into many moments amongst our and others lives:).
@exttiint
The whole album is underrated af
@ston3dr4t60
Ik
@sans7240
I see why
@pitbull3868
*disappointing