The Bells
Lowell (real name Elizabeth Lowell Boland) is a singer-songwriter living in… Read Full Bio ↴Lowell (real name Elizabeth Lowell Boland) is a singer-songwriter living in Toronto, Canada. Born in Calgary, she eventually migrated to the Yukon where she lived with her father in Carcross, near a mountain that once offered passage to gold hunters. Lowell drew strength from desolate beachside cabin she and her father called home before finding her way to Massachusetts, Ottawa, Georgia, then back to Calgary before basing herself in Toronto and London. After earning the attention of Martin Terefe, Sacha Skarbek, James Bryan and Paul Herman, Lowell was invited to Kensaltown Studios in London to write with all of them. However, what they worked on wasn't in sync with her own vision - so, supported in her decision to stay true to herself, she and the pack scrapped what they had and started all over again. Soon, they saw the completion of her EP, I Killed Sara V., and the beginnings of her full-length record, We Loved Her Dearly - her debut album on Arts & Crafts.

The Bells
Lowell Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Would you give me a beat?
Beat go

The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and
The bounce, the bounce, the bounce, the bounce, and
The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and the beat

When you gonna call me?
I can never tell
I wanna hear the ding ding dong
I wanna hear the bells

The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and
The bounce, the bounce, the bounce, the bounce, and
The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and the beat

I can bring it up
I can make it hot (hot, hot)
I can take it off
Drop it like a rock

The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and
The bounce, the bounce, the bounce, the bounce, and
The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and the beat

Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah

Hey, where'd the beat go?
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah) beat go
Where'd the beat go?
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah) beat go
Where'd the beat go?

The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and
The bounce, the bounce, the bounce, the bounce, and
The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and the beat

Beat go

The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and
The bounce, the bounce, the bounce, the bounce, and
The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and the beat

Hey, where'd the beat go?
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah) beat go
Where'd the beat go?
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah) beat go
Where'd the beat go?




Beat go
Beat go

Overall Meaning

"The Bells" by Lowell seems to be a song about the desire for communication and connection with another person. The song starts with Lowell asking for a beat, which then leads into the repetition of the phrase "the bells and the bounce and the beat." These phrases can be interpreted in a few different ways. The bells could represent a phone ringing, suggesting that Lowell wants someone to call her. The bounce and the beat might represent the rhythm of a conversation, suggesting that she wants to be engaged in a lively back and forth with someone.


The second verse continues with Lowell expressing her desire to hear the "ding ding dong" of the bells. She wants to be contacted by someone but can't predict when that will happen. The bells, the bounce, and the beat all represent different aspects of communication throughout the song. They are all elements that can create a sense of connection with another person.


The bridge of the song repeats the phrase "where'd the beat go?" This repetition emphasizes the importance of the beat, which could represent an emotional or physical connection that Lowell is trying to find with another person. The song ends where it began, with Lowell asking for the beat. Altogether, "The Bells" seems to be a song that reflects on the difficulty of finding meaningful connections with other people and the longing for that sense of connection.


Line by Line Meaning

The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and
The ringing and reverberating of the bells create a grand sound and feeling.


The bounce, the bounce, the bounce, the bounce, and
The rhythm and energy of the music is lively and upbeat.


The bells, the bells, the bells, the bells, and the beat
The combination of the bells and the beat create an exciting, danceable sound.


I can never tell
It's difficult to say when something will happen or when someone will contact her.


I wanna hear the ding ding dong I wanna hear the bells
She desires the joy and excitement that come with lively and festive music.


I can bring it up
She has the ability to lift the mood and energy of a situation.


I can make it hot (hot, hot) I can take it off Drop it like a rock
She can intensify the excitement of the music and create a memorable experience for those listening.


Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah
The repetition of these sounds creates a catchy and memorable hook in the song.


Hey, where'd the beat go?
She notices when the energy fades and wants to keep the lively beat going.


(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah, ah ah) beat go
The repeated refrain highlights the importance of keeping the beat and rhythm constant throughout the song.


Beat go
The beat is the backbone of the song and it signifies its important role in creating a fun and energetic atmosphere.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Paul Philip Herman, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Justin Broad

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@fela7289

I went to Berlin yesterday, first time since Corona happened and the whole day felt like that. At noon we started filming some documentary stuff about the rammstein gig and traveled westberlin to get some impression of the city too. It was hot and dry and felt like going on an adventure in a concrete desert. After we finished filming, we stopped by this small asian food place to recharge our batteries. Turns out we were the only one there and the food was absolutely delicious. It felt like discovering an oasis.

In the Evening I rode an e-scooter for a full hour to get to the other side of the city since I was meeting up with some old friends there at Warschauer. The sun was setting and everything cooled down. On my way there I saw many things that just made me feel so alive. It was like I could feel the city breathing and I was part of it. everything was just right.

When I arrived at Warschauer Bridge, I could hear the music from so far and immediately recognized who was playing there. under the bridge was another party hosted by a homeless guy with the baddest soundsystem. He once had a house and a wife somewhere in California I think but he had to abandon his life and leave the country for legal reasons so now hes stranded in Berlin and just wants to make people happy by throwing big ass raves for the people (@mannydohappy on IG if youre interested)

fastforward to 5am the next day, Im tired af, waiting on my train back to Leipzig, the sun is rising, this Song comes on in some indie-rock spotify playlist and all Im thinking is: life is alright.

I saw so many people that night, created so many good memories and Im absolutely overwhelmed by the thought alone to even try to put all these feelings into a small youtube comment, because I cant.



All comments from YouTube:

@Mvrge

6 years later and i still love this song

@jimmyyitty7296

Yeah foreal

@overseerbeats6372

This shit a hidden gem fr…. Heard it at a tgi fridays last year😭 Music is crazy man so is time

@danielxu647

9 years later and i still lover this song

@caitlinespinosa1873

My dad showed me this song 5 years ago, and he’s gone now but I love to come back to this and feel his unique energy once again🥹❤️

@KillingWorldwide

This sounds like the perfect summer night.. nothing too eventful. Just feeling alive and breathing that cool summer air.

@fela7289

I went to Berlin yesterday, first time since Corona happened and the whole day felt like that. At noon we started filming some documentary stuff about the rammstein gig and traveled westberlin to get some impression of the city too. It was hot and dry and felt like going on an adventure in a concrete desert. After we finished filming, we stopped by this small asian food place to recharge our batteries. Turns out we were the only one there and the food was absolutely delicious. It felt like discovering an oasis.

In the Evening I rode an e-scooter for a full hour to get to the other side of the city since I was meeting up with some old friends there at Warschauer. The sun was setting and everything cooled down. On my way there I saw many things that just made me feel so alive. It was like I could feel the city breathing and I was part of it. everything was just right.

When I arrived at Warschauer Bridge, I could hear the music from so far and immediately recognized who was playing there. under the bridge was another party hosted by a homeless guy with the baddest soundsystem. He once had a house and a wife somewhere in California I think but he had to abandon his life and leave the country for legal reasons so now hes stranded in Berlin and just wants to make people happy by throwing big ass raves for the people (@mannydohappy on IG if youre interested)

fastforward to 5am the next day, Im tired af, waiting on my train back to Leipzig, the sun is rising, this Song comes on in some indie-rock spotify playlist and all Im thinking is: life is alright.

I saw so many people that night, created so many good memories and Im absolutely overwhelmed by the thought alone to even try to put all these feelings into a small youtube comment, because I cant.

@shanershow

how did this song not become more popular?!?!

@swapnote3ds

Canadian, it’s hard to get exposure

@psc7949

Not only is this a beautiful track in its own right, that video was done in one take. Love it to bits.

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