Mike Doughty (born June 10, 1970, in Fort Knox, Kentucky) is an American in… Read Full Bio ↴Mike Doughty (born June 10, 1970, in Fort Knox, Kentucky) is an American indie and alternative rock singer-songwriter and author. The former frontman of Soul Coughing from 1992, Doughty began writing solo songs in 1995, but nothing materialized until Soul Coughing broke up in 2000. At this point Doughty began touring solo with his acoustic guitar (after becoming clean and sober). His album Skittish (recorded 1996; released 2000) was finally released, along with the EP Rockity Roll. Doughty then formed a touring band including an upright bass, drums and keyboard.

Doughty's sound is that of muted acoustic guitar rhythms and nasally vocals with impeccable melodies. His lyrics are unique, and he can be described as a master wordsmith. He turned to a new direction for his 2008 album, Golden Delicious. Instead of an acoustic gritty sound, he began using things like electric guitars, stronger vocal backgrounds and even a cello.

Doughty's album, Yes and Also Yes, was released in August 2011. In January 2012, The Book of Drugs, Doughty's memoir about his "ugly, drug-doing years", was published by Da Capo Press. In 2012 Doughty recorded a version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" for a fund-raising cd titled "Super Hits Of The Seventies" for radio station WFMU. Doughty's album, The Question Jar Show, was released in late January 2012. It is a two disc set containing highlights from his Question Jar tour.

Discography:
Skittish LP (recorded 1996; released 2000)
Smofe + Smang: Live in Minneapolis LP (2002)
Rockity Roll EP (2003)
Skittish / Rockity Roll double LP (2004): A two disc re-release which includes the out-of-print Skittish, the Rockity Roll EP, and five bonus tracks.
Haughty Melodic LP (2005): Doughty's first full-band album, released on May 3, 2005.
The Gambler EP (2005): Six song EP. Title track is a cover of the Kenny Rogers hit.
Golden Delicious (2008)
Sad Man Happy Man (2009)
Yes and Also Yes (2011)
The Question Jar Show (2012)
The Lo-Fi Lodge (2012)
The Flip Is Another Honey (2012)

Official website: www.mikedoughty.com

I Hear the Bells
Mike Doughty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hear the bells
Down in the canyon, it's
Snow in New York
Some blue December, I'm
Gone to the moon
Without you, girl, and I'm
Calling to you
Throughout the world and well I can

Hear the bells are
Ringing joyful and triumphant and

I hear the bells
They are like emeralds, and
Glints in the night
Commas and ampersands
Your moony face
So inaccessible
Your inner mind
So inexpressible

I'm seeking girls
In sales and marketing
Let's go make out
Up in the balcony
Your business dress
So businesslike and I'm
Tossing the blouse
Over a chairback and

You snooze, you lose
Well I have snost and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
So fascinating and

I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting

Overall Meaning

The song "I Hear the Bells" by Mike Doughty is a poignant reflection on a past love and the nostalgia that comes with it, as well as the frustration of moving on. The first verse describes a cold and snowy December day, which only accentuates the feelings of loneliness and longing. The singer, who is away from his former lover, continues to call out to her across the world. However, the ringing bells in the chorus provide a sense of joy and optimism, as if the singer believes that he can still find happiness and triumph even without his former love.

The second verse takes a darker turn, as the singer feels weighed down by the memory of his past relationship. He compares the bells to emeralds, valuable but ultimately inaccessible, just like the former lover he still pines for. He then describes trying to move on by seeking out new flings and experiences, but ultimately feeling dissatisfied and frustrated. The singer is determined to "slug it out" and continue seeking happiness, but the emotional weight of his past threatens to overwhelm him.

Overall, the song is a moving and introspective meditation on the complexities of love, loss, and the struggle to move on. It captures the bittersweet nostalgia that often accompanies memories of past relationships, as well as the sense of hopelessness that can come from feeling like you've lost something irreplaceable.

Line by Line Meaning

I hear the bells
The singer hears the sound of bells ringing

Down in the canyon, it's
The singer is in a different location where the sound of the bells can be heard echoing

Snow in New York
It's snowing in New York City, a common occurrence in December

Some blue December, I'm
The artist is experiencing a feeling of sadness or melancholy during the month of December

Gone to the moon
The artist is feeling disconnected and distant from reality

Without you, girl, and I'm
The singer is missing someone special who is not around

Calling to you
The singer is trying to communicate with the absent person using the sound of the bells

Throughout the world and well I can
The sound of the bells can be heard everywhere in the world

Hear the bells are
The artist can hear that the bells are ringing

Ringing joyful and triumphant and
The bells are making a happy and victorious sound

They are like emeralds, and
The sound of the bells is compared to the sparkling color of emeralds

Glints in the night
The sound of the bells shines or sparkles in the darkness

Commas and ampersands
The singer is making random associations and connections

Your moony face
The face of the absent person is compared to the moon

So inaccessible
The singer is feeling frustrated by the absence of the person and their inability to connect

Your inner mind
The thoughts and feelings of the absent person that the artist cannot reach

So inexpressible
The artist is unable to fully understand or articulate their own emotions or the emotions of the absent person

I'm seeking girls
The singer is looking for romantic or sexual companionship

In sales and marketing
The singer is looking for women who are successful in business

Let's go make out
The artist wants to engage in physical intimacy with the women

Up in the balcony
The artist suggests a more private or secluded area for the intimacy to occur

Your business dress
The clothing worn by the women is professional and formal

So businesslike and I'm
The women's attire contrasts with the singer's casual or informal demeanor

Tossing the blouse
The artist is engaged in sexual activity with one of the women

Over a chairback and
The singer is discarding clothing and accessories in the heat of the moment

You snooze, you lose
The singer believes that if someone is inactive or hesitant, they will miss out on opportunities

Well I have snost and lost
The singer has taken risks and has not succeeded in achieving their desired outcome

I'm pushing through
The artist is persevering in spite of difficulties or setbacks

I'll disregard the cost
The artist is willing to take risks and make sacrifices to achieve their goals

So fascinating and
The sound of the bells is intriguing or captivating to the singer

I'll slug it out
The singer will fight or struggle to achieve their desired outcome

I'm sick of waiting
The artist has been waiting for something to happen or change and is now impatient or frustrated

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL DODD WILSON, MICHAEL DOUGHTY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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