A new single, "A Woman Like You" has reached the top 10 of the Radio & Records Canadian country singles chart. His latest album, Dance with Me, was released on March 10, 2009.
As of March 28, 2009, he holds the #1 and #3 for top selling country albums in Canada similtanously (with Dance with Me being at #1 and Kicking Stones #3
II. Johnny Reid is a singer, guitarist and entertainer, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Johnny was influenced early in his musical career by many great guitar legends - Hendrix, Clapton, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman - while performing in many Carolina venues.
In 1972, Johnny performed with the band “Brother Blood” which won 1st place in the Columbia SC JayCees "Battle of the Bands."
In 1976, Johnny formed the band "Wheatstone Bridge" with brother Jimmy on bass and Gary Seawell on drums, playing venues around South Carolina. Johnny provided "Wheatstone Bridge" with high-energy guitar playing and rock-flavored vocals.
In the 1980s Johnny played with the Columbia SC band "Good and Proper," logging many dates yearly in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Kentucky, performing music from R&B, East Coast "Beach" Music, Top 40 and Country music categories.
Johnny moved to the Atlanta Georgia area in 1990, where he performs as the solo act "Johnny Reid" as well as with Grayson GA guitarist Lee Fisher, and Atlanta GA drummer Jano Rojko. Johnny has performed at many Atlanta area venues, including The Whistle Post Tavern, CJ's Landing, The 529 Club, Cigar Village, The Brandy House, Smith's Olde Bar, The Checkered Parrot, Rafter's, Spondivit's, The Yellow Daisy Festival at TheStone Mountain Park, The Macon Coliseum, and the Celtic Tavern.
Johnny Reid is an experienced vocalist, guitarist and performer. “I’ll always play guitar and sing - that's what I love so much,” Johnny confides.
Album: Speak For Yourself
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Johnny Reid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
In my heart I hear them
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep (peace on earth, peace on earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells they're ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
And in my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (Peace on earth)
The life the angels singing (peace on earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Can you hear the bells they're ringing (peace on earth)
Open up your heart to hear them
They shine light oh, can't you see it
In I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day, Johnny Reid sings about his experience of hearing the bells ringing on Christmas Day and their message of peace on earth and good will to men. The sound of these bells is familiar and comforting to him as it reminds him of the traditional carols that are sung during the holiday season. The song touches on the theme of despair as Reid acknowledges that peace on earth seems like an unachievable goal in a world where hate is strong and mockingly opposes the message of peace. However, he finds comfort and hope in the belief that God is alive, watching over the world, and ultimately, the right will prevail over the wrong. As the bells become louder and more intense, there is a sense of transformation taking place. The world is changing, and there is a newfound sense of hope and optimism, as the bells continue to sing their message of peace on earth and good will to men.
The song was originally a poem called Christmas Bells, written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863 during the American Civil War. Longfellow penned the poem after his son was seriously injured in the war and his wife died in a house fire the same year. Reid's version omits some verses from the original poem and adds a chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
The bells rang on Christmas Day.
Their old familiar carols play
The bells played the old familiar carols.
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
The songs of the bells are mild and sweet and they kept repeating.
Of peace on earth, good will to men
The songs of the bells were about peace on earth and goodwill to men.
And the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
The bells are ringing for peace on earth.
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
The bells sound like a choir singing for peace on earth.
In my heart I hear them
I can hear the bells in my heart.
Peace on earth, good will to men
The bells sing for peace on earth and goodwill to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
I felt hopeless and bowed my head.
There is no peace on earth I said
I thought there was no peace on earth.
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Hate is strong and it makes the song of peace on earth feel like a mockery.
But the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
However, the bells are still ringing for peace on earth.
Does anybody hear them?
I wonder if anyone else can hear the bells for peace.
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
Then the bells rang even louder and deeper.
God is not dead, nor does he sleep (peace on earth, peace on earth)
God is alive and awake and still striving for peace on earth.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Wrong will fail and right will prevail.
With peace on earth, good will to men
With peace on earth and goodwill to men.
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men
The bells kept ringing and singing, and the world was transformed from dark to light. Their voice, chime and song was sublime, and it was again for peace on earth and goodwill to men.
And the bells they're ringing (peace on earth)
The bells continue to ring for peace on earth.
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
The bells still sound like a choir singing for peace on earth.
And in my heart I hear them
I can still hear the bells in my heart.
Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (Peace on earth)
Can you hear the bells ringing for peace on earth?
The life the angels singing (peace on earth)
It sounds like angels are singing for peace on earth.
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on earth)
Open your heart and listen to the bells ringing for peace on earth.
Can you hear the bells they're ringing (peace on earth)
Can you hear the bells ringing for peace on earth?
Open up your heart to hear them
Open your heart to listen to the bells.
They shine light oh, can't you see it
The bells are shining light, can't you see it?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: John Mark Hall, Dale Oliver, Bernie Herms
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind