The Faster Songfacts says that his seventh studio album, Modern Love debuted on #17 on the Billboard 200 for the week of July 9, 2011, making it Nathanson's most successful album to date.
The members of his band have changed over the past years. Among others, he has been accompanied by Aben Eubanks on guitar, keys and vocals, but later replaced by Aaron Tap. John Thomasson has been his bassist since 2004. Jason McKenzie was on drums until Fall 2006; Nick Amoroso on two tours from Fall 2007 through Winter 2008. His current drummer is Konrad Meissner. Before 2005, Nathanson was often accompanied by cellist Matt Fish.
Mission Bells
Matt Nathanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I just wanna be with you tonight
Mission bells were ringing
Somewhere higher
I let you get away
I let you get away
What kind of man misunderstands
She's her in black and white
It's 5 am and the phonebook says
That you're not alone
In the cold grey morning light
The only one that's left to trust
My faithless heart wasted us
I had a dream you died
And I just wanna be with you tonight
Mission bells were ringing
Somewhere higher
I let you get away
I let you get away
What kind of fool thinks love's a prison
Or a handicap
Only says goodbye
Sinking fast in the rocky waters of alcatraz
His friends said suicide
The only one that's left to trust
My faithless heart wasted us
I had a dream you died
And I just wanna be with you tonight
Mission bells were ringing
Somewhere higher
I let you get away
I let you get away
I'm the end of a hitchcock movie
A little dark and a lot confusing
I'm the last of the worst pretenders
So lost, so lost in love
I'm the end of a hitchcock movie
A little dark and a lot confusing
I'm the last of the worst pretenders
So lost, so lost in love
I had a dream you died
And I just wanna be with you tonight
Mission bells were ringing
Somewhere higher
I let you get away
I let you get away
So lost, so lost, in love
So lost, so lost, in love
The lyrics to "Mission Bells" by Matt Nathanson describe the emotions of a man who let the woman he loves get away, and the regret he feels after having a dream where she died. He ponders on the idea of how he could have misunderstood and underestimated her, and how he's come to realize his mistake now. The mission bells ringing somewhere higher can be interpreted as a sort of divine intervention, a sign that he should try and reconnect with her. The line "she's here in black and white" can be seen as a reference to a photograph, a tangible proof of their past together. He mentions being lost in love, which adds to the theme of miscommunication and misunderstanding that he sings about throughout the song.
The chorus is a repetition of the lyrics "I had a dream you died and I just wanna be with you tonight, mission bells were ringing somewhere higher, I let you get away", which further emphasizes the remorseful and regretful feelings the singer is dealing with. The song ends on a somber note, with the line "so lost, so lost in love". This song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the importance of not taking love for granted and trying to fix things before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream you died
The singer had a dream that the person he loves has died.
And I just wanna be with you tonight
The singer wants to be with the person he loves tonight.
Mission bells were ringing
The sound of mission bells can be heard in the background.
Somewhere higher
The mission bells are ringing from someplace higher up.
I let you get away
The singer allowed the person he loves to leave.
I let you get away
The singer allowed the person he loves to leave. (repeated)
What kind of man misunderstands
The singer questions himself for not understanding the person he loves.
A woman like you?
The singer wonders how he could have misunderstood a woman like the one he loves.
She's her in black and white
The singer recalls the person he loves in a black and white memory.
It's 5 am and the phonebook says
It's early in the morning and the singer is checking the phonebook for the person he loves.
That you're not alone
The phonebook confirms that the person he loves is not alone.
In the cold grey morning light
The singer describes the early morning light as cold and grey.
The only one that's left to trust
The singer feels like he can only trust himself now.
My faithless heart wasted us
The singer's lack of faith in love led to the end of their relationship.
What kind of fool thinks love's a prison
The singer wonders who would think that love is a prison or a handicap.
Or a handicap
The singer questions the idea of love being a handicap.
Only says goodbye
The person he loves only says goodbye instead of staying with him.
Sinking fast in the rocky waters of alcatraz
The singer describes himself as sinking fast in the rocky waters of Alcatraz, a reference to a notorious prison in San Francisco.
His friends said suicide
The singer's friends thought he might commit suicide.
The only one that's left to trust
The singer has lost trust in everyone including himself.
My faithless heart wasted us
The singer blames himself for the failure of their relationship due to his lack of faith in love.
I'm the end of a hitchcock movie
The singer compares himself to the end of a Hitchcock movie, dark and confusing.
A little dark and a lot confusing
The singer is a little dark and a lot confusing just like the ending of a Hitchcock movie.
I'm the last of the worst pretenders
The singer describes himself as the last of the worst pretenders, someone who hides behind a façade.
So lost, so lost in love
The singer is lost in love and doesn't know what to do.
I had a dream you died
The singer had a dream that the person he loves has died. (repeated)
And I just wanna be with you tonight
The singer wants to be with the person he loves tonight. (repeated)
Mission bells were ringing
The sound of mission bells can be heard in the background. (repeated)
Somewhere higher
The mission bells are ringing from someplace higher up. (repeated)
I let you get away
The singer allowed the person he loves to leave. (repeated)
I let you get away
The singer allowed the person he loves to leave. (repeated)
So lost, so lost, in love
The singer is lost in love and doesn't know what to do. (repeated)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MICHAEL VIOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
СՓԺШдՐՀՓՐԺ98
🎶I had a dream you died,
And I just wanna be,
With you tonight,
Mission bells were ringing,
Somewhere high up,
I let you get away...
(woh-oh, woh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-Oh)
I let you get away,
(Woh-oh, woh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)🎶
cowys_
Just remembered this song today, one of the most underrated songs and artist ever. Love it.
Kate Chamomile
this song and video deserved so much more recognition.
Kate Chamomile
@Ashley Genio right back at you, Ashley! 💕💕💕
Cole Robinson
Agree! So catchy
Adrianna Melero
OMG I remember this song it brings back so many memories. Why wasn't this song ever popular.
Justine Giles
LOVE the video.. loving the retro vibe.. and also the edits are awesome!! Great stuff Matt!!!!
Le Grand Cat
Matt's songs are so easy to like, first time hearing this and I just love it
Shayna Nizna
I have been a loyal Matt Nathanson fan since the start, and as he has changed, so have I. If you truly admire an artist then you should be able to respect and appreciate their evolution as an artist. He is still as amazing as he always has been.
Nick Thornburg
This song has a unique swagger to it.
MR.ZOMEKILLZz
Love it