Her self-titled debut album, Mathilde Santing, came out in 1982 and she gas released well over fifteen studio albums since, most of them sung in English, although she sometimes performs and records in her mother tongue as well. Known for her whispery and vulnerable vocal style, Santing is a prominent gay role model in The Netherlands. She sang at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam.
Santing's biggest chart success came in 1999 with the lush ballad 'Wonderful Life', which hit #6 in the Dutch Top 40. The song was taken from the 1999 album To Others To One, which is her highest charting album in her native Netherlands to date, reaching #4 in the Dutch album charts.
If I Were A Bell
Mathilde Santing Lyrics
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Now that we're cosy and clinging,
Well sir, all I can say is
If I were a bell I'd be ringing!
From the moment we kissed goodnight,
That's the way I just gotta behave,
And if I were a lamp I'd light,
Ask me how do I feel,
Little me with my quiet upbringing,
Well sir, all I can say is
If I were a gate I'd be swinging!
And if I were a watch,
I'd start popping my spring,
Oh, and if I were a bell
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
Ask me how do I feel
From this chemistry lesson I'm learning,
Well sir, all I can say is
If I were a bridge I'd be burning!
Well, I knew my moral would crack
From the wonderful way you looked,
Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack,
Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked!
Ask me how do I feel
Now that we're fondly caressing,
And if I were a salad,
I know I'd be splashing my dressing!
Or if I were a season,
I'd surely be Spring,
Yes, and if I were a bell,
Say, if I were a bell,
If I were a bell
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
These lyrics are from Mathilde Santing's cover of "If I Were a Bell," a song originally written by Frank Loesser for the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls." The lyrics are about the singer's excitement and elation at being in love. The singer uses vivid imagery to express their feelings, proclaiming that they would be ringing like a bell, swinging like a gate, lighting up like a lamp, waving like a banner, and burning like a bridge. The singer also mentions their newfound sense of freedom, saying that they feel like they could quack like a duck or be cooked like a goose, signaling that they are willing to take risks and embrace their newfound love.
The use of metaphor and personification in these lyrics is significant. By describing themselves as objects, the singer is able to convey complex emotions and experiences in a way that is powerful and relatable. The repetition of the phrase "If I were a bell" serves as a refrain throughout the song, heightening the sense of excitement and anticipation in the singer's voice.
Line by Line Meaning
Ask me how do I feel,
Inquire about my emotions,
Now that we're cosy and clinging,
Now that we are close and intimate,
Well sir, all I can say is
Well, all I am able to respond with is,
If I were a bell I'd be ringing!
If I were an object, I would be making a sound to express my joy and elation.
From the moment we kissed goodnight,
Starting from the moment we shared a goodnight kiss,
That's the way I just gotta behave,
That is the way I am compelled to act,
And if I were a lamp I'd light,
And if I were an object, I would emit light,
Or if I were a banner I'd wave!
Or if I were an object, I would wave to celebrate the moment.
Little me with my quiet upbringing,
I am a person with a modest and reserved background,
Well sir, all I can say is
Well, all I am able to respond with is,
If I were a gate I'd be swinging!
If I were an object, I would be swinging to represent my happiness.
And if I were a watch,
Also, if I were an object like a watch,
I'd start popping my spring,
I would start bouncing and behaving erratically,
Oh, and if I were a bell
Oh, similarly, if I were an object like a bell,
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
I would make a cheerful sound of ringing.
From this chemistry lesson I'm learning,
From this romantic experience I am experiencing,
Well sir, all I can say is
Well, all I am able to respond with is,
If I were a bridge I'd be burning!
If I were an object, I would be burning to express my passion.
Well, I knew my moral would crack
I was aware that my principles would falter,
From the wonderful way you looked,
From the amazing way you appeared,
Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack,
If I were an object, I would quack to demonstrate my excitement.
Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked!
Or if I were an object, I would be cooking to radiate my enthusiasm.
Now that we're fondly caressing,
Now that we are tenderly stroking,
And if I were a salad,
Also, if I were an object like a salad,
I know I'd be splashing my dressing!
I would be spilling my sauce in a joyous manner.
Or if I were a season,
Or if I were an object like a season,
I'd surely be Spring,
I would certainly be the season of Spring, representing new beginnings.
Yes, and if I were a bell,
Indeed, if I were an object like a bell,
Say, if I were a bell,
Let's say I am a bell,
If I were a bell
If I were an object like a bell,
I'd go "Ding dong ding dong ding!".
I would make a cheerful sound of ringing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY C BROCKERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind