Background
Lissie was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois, USA - her father is a physician and her mother is an interior designer. She was interested in singing and music from an early age. She played the title role of the musical Annie at the age of nine. "In high school it seems like everyone has more drama than any other time in their life. So that was the time in my life where I really leaned on music as a way to stay sane" she said in an interview.
In her senior year of high school, Lissie was expelled over, what she described, as "something stupid that [she] did, but it was sort of like the culmination of just a lot of negative things that had happened". She got her degree at an alternative outreach center. She spent two years at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, during which time she would open for musicians who visited the city. She collaborated with DJ Harry of SCI Fidelity Records on the song "All My Life", which featured on television shows House, The O.C., Veronica Mars and Wildfire. After spending a semester in Paris, she finished her studies to pursue a career in music. In 2007, she produced a four-song EP that received some airplay on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.
In early 2008, Lenny Kravitz invited her to be the opening act for his Love Revolution Tour, after a friend tipped him about her MySpace page. Later that year, "The Longest Road", a song she co-wrote with DJ Morgan Page reached #4 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart. "We met under that idea that he was going to remix a song of mine (...) But we decided to work on a new song together", she told the Quad-City Times. The Deadmau5 remix of the track was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical" category.
Releases
EP - Lissie (2007 and re-released in 2013)
EP - Why You Runnin' (2009)
Her EP, Why You Runnin', produced by Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses, was released in November 2009 on Fat Possum. One of the songs, Oh Mississippi, was co-written with Ed Harcourt, whom she met through a mutual friend. The EP was listed amongst Paste magazine's "Eight Most Auspicious Musical Debuts of 2009". In early 2010, she toured various venues in the United Kingdom supporting Ohio-born singer-songwriter Joshua Radin.
Catching a Tiger (2010)
Lissie signed with Sony Music UK's Columbia Records. Her debut album, Catching a Tiger, was released on June 21, 2010. The album was recorded in Nashville in 2009 and produced by Jacquire King. The first single from the album, In Sleep, was selected as Track of The Day by Q Magazine on 13 March 2010. A second single, When I’m Alone, was released alongside the album; it would later be chosen by iTunes UK as their song of the year 2010.
Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire (2011)
EP - Covered Up With Flowers (2011)
Back to Forever (2013)
Lissie's sophomore album, Back to Forever, was released on September 8, 2013. It features the singles “Shameless” and “Further Away (Romance Police)”
EP - Love in the City (2013).
EP - Cryin' To You (2014)
In March 2014, Lissie released a critically acclaimed independent EP of cover versions called Cryin' To You. The 5-track EP features an eclectic mix of popular covers - Judas Priest’s Electric Eye, One Direction’s ballad The Story of My Life, Mother by Danzig, Hold On We're Going Home by Drake and Bob Dylan's To Ramona.
My Wild West (2016)
On February 12, 2016 Lissie released her 3rd studio album titled "My Wild West". The album has three singles: the promotional single Hero, the lead single Don't You Give Up On Me, and Daughters. My Wild West has an average grade of 73% on Metacritic.
Live at Union Chapel (2016)
Castles (2018)
On March 23, 2018 Lissie released her 4th studio album Castles. Generally receiving favourable reviews it has a rating of 76% on Metacritic. The album has a slower overall feel and includes prominent piano accompaniments on some tracks. The album has 4 singles; Boyfriend, Blood & Muscle, Best Days and Love Blows.
Compilation - When I'm Alone: The Piano Retrospective (2019)
EP - Thank You to the Flowers (2020)
Carving Canyons (2022)
Released September 16, 2022.
Wedding Bells
Lissie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wanted me to see you changed your name
I couldn't stand to see you wed another
But dear I hope you're happy just the same
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Should be ringing out for you and me
Down the aisle with someone else you're walking
I planned a little cottage in the valley (la la la la)
I even bought a little band of gold
I thought someday I'd place it on your finger (la la la la)
Now the future looks so dark and cold
Wedding bells are ringin in the chapel
I hear the children laughing out with glee
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
Wedding bells will never ring for me
Ooh oohh ahhh oooh oooh
Ooh oohh ahhh oooh oooh
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
While the organ plays I love you truly
Please let me pretend that it's me there
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Ever since the day you set me free
I knew someday that you would wed another
But wedding bells will never ring for me
Wedding bells will never ring for me
Wedding bells will never ring for me
The song "Wedding Bells" by Lissie is a sorrowful ballad about lost love and heartbreak. The singer of the song received an invitation to the wedding of the person they loved and could not bear to see them marry someone else. The singer reminisces about their plans for a future together, including buying a little band of gold and planning a cottage in the valley. Now, they are left alone with a bleak outlook on the future, while wedding bells ring for someone else. The singer can only imagine their lost love with roses and an orange blossom in their hair during the wedding ceremony, while they are left with the searing pain of having to let go.
The song is powerful in its simplicity and emotional honesty. It speaks to anyone who has ever loved and lost, and it’s a poignant reminder of the unfulfilled longings and dreams that can come crashing down when love does not work out. It’s a beautiful example of how a simple melody and well-crafted lyrics can combine to create a profound emotional impact that will stay with the listener long after the song is over.
Line by Line Meaning
I have the invitation that you sent me
You sent me the invitation to your wedding.
You wanted me to see you changed your name
You have changed your name after the wedding.
I couldn't stand to see you wed another
It was hard for me to see you getting married to someone else.
But dear I hope you're happy just the same
Despite my feelings, I hope you are happy in your marriage.
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
There are wedding bells ringing in the chapel where you are getting married.
Should be ringing out for you and me
The wedding bells should be ringing for both of us, but they aren't.
Down the aisle with someone else you're walking
You are walking down the aisle with someone else, not me.
Wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get the chance to hear wedding bells for myself.
I planned a little cottage in the valley (la la la la)
I had planned a future with you and even bought you a symbol of commitment, a band of gold.
I even bought a little band of gold
I had planned a future with you and even bought you a symbol of commitment, a band of gold.
I thought someday I'd place it on your finger (la la la la)
I had hoped to put the band of gold on your finger someday.
Now the future looks so dark and cold
My future seems dim and without warmth.
I hear the children laughing out with glee
Children at the wedding are laughing and having fun.
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
I am alone at home and sad.
Wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get the chance to hear wedding bells for myself.
Ooh oohh ahhh oooh oooh
Repetition of sounds for emotional emphasis.
Ooh oohh ahhh oooh oooh
Repetition of sounds for emotional emphasis.
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
I imagine that I see you holding a bunch of roses.
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
You have a blossoming orange tree in your hair.
While the organ plays I love you truly
During the wedding ceremony, the organ plays 'I love you truly'.
Please let me pretend that it's me there
Allow me to imagine myself in your place.
Ever since the day you set me free
Since you broke up with me and ended our relationship.
I knew someday that you would wed another
I always knew that you would marry someone else eventually.
But wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get the chance to hear wedding bells for myself.
Wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get the chance to hear wedding bells for myself.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAUDE BOONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bartonyoung3631
This is a fantastic version of this incredible song.
@DiskoKing
Seen her live in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. An intimate gig, Lissie, her band and around 50 people watching. An amazing voice from an amazing artist. Really nice, quality girl to talk to as well. :)
@silverskiesblackeyes
This was an amazing cover. I'd never heard of her before this. What a voice.
@uhhhhtaco
it makes lissie that much more special. She doesnt need all the mainstream flash and bubble to make a such a deep impression in our hearts :)
@julian_b
This is one of those songs that sticks in your head and you can't stop singing.
@ArtR0001
Love this girl. I can understand her words and the guitars are not polluted with a multitude of effects. But that's just me...
@terrykoch9848
What a beautiful rendition of this song!
@JezzyJerseyCow
I'm hoping she comes to the UK to tour soon. She's become my favourite artist over the last few years. She soothes me. Beautiful woman with a beautiful voice.
@alphatauran
Well I'm a fan. I love this woman's music.
@Coco100k
beautiful. I can't stop listening to this. I saw her perform and met her at the Best Buy corporate HQ. She was just as soulful despite being in the middle of a stupid corporate lunchroom. she deserves the best.