From the 1960s to the 1980s, Diamond was one of the more successful pop music performers, scoring a number of hits. As critic William Ruhlmann writes, "as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart."[1] As of May 2005 he has sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.[2]
Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.
Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and then in 2000 was given its Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early part of 2011.
In 2008 Neil Diamond scored his first ever Billboard number one album with "Home Before Dark", the album also became his first studio album to get to number one in the UK.
Hear Them Bells
Neil Diamond Lyrics
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Hear them bells from up above
My darling, I need you, more each day
I'd be contented dear
If only you would say
I'll be yours forever, sweetheart
Our love is real, we'll never ever part
To be with you, love is my one desire
You'll set my soul on fire
Hear them bells, the story of our love
Hear them bells, the story of our love
Hear them bells, the story's in their sound
Hear them bells, I'm heaven bound
To be with you, love ,is my one desire
And if you'll leave me
You'll set my soul on fire
Hear them bells, the story of our love
Hear them bells, the story of our love
In Neil Diamond's "Hear Them Bells," the singer is expressing his deep affection for his lover. The bells symbolize the story of their love, as they ring out and serve as a metaphor for their relationship. The singer declares that he needs his lover more each day and wants to be with them forever. He would be content if his lover would reciprocate his feelings and promise to be with him always.
The lyrics also contain a warning to the lover that if they were to leave, it would set the singer's soul on fire. This intense emotional attachment is further emphasized by the repetition of the chorus at the end of the song. The bell's sound serves as a heavenly announcement of their love to the world.
Overall, the song conveys a feeling of desperation and a desire for eternal love. The bells are a symbol of their relationship, and the singer is willing to do anything to keep it alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear them bells, the story of our love
The ringing of the bells represents the story of our love.
Hear them bells from up above
These bells are so profound that they can be heard from heaven.
My darling, I need you, more each day
Every passing day, my love and need for you only grows stronger.
I'd be contented dear
If only you would say
I'll be yours forever, sweetheart
If only you would pledge forever as mine, my heart would be content.
Our love is real, we'll never ever part
Our love is genuine, and separation is not an option.
To be with you, love is my one desire
My ultimate goal in life is to grow older and share my existence with you.
And if you'll leave me
However, if you leave me, then
You'll set my soul on fire
The pain will be so intense that my soul will be engulfed in flames.
Hear them bells, the story's in their sound
The ringing of the bells serves as a testament of our love.
Hear them bells, I'm heaven bound
The sound of the bells takes me to a state of euphoria.
To be with you, love, is my one desire
My desire to explore life and all of its glory is motivated by the prospect of experiencing it with you.
And if you'll leave me
However, if you depart from my side,
You'll set my soul on fire
My desire to keep you close to me will cause me indescribable pain.
Hear them bells, the story of our love
The sound of these bells will forever remind me of our love story.
Hear them bells, the story of our love
The sound of these bells will forever remind me of our love story.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind