Serenade
Paul Weston & His Orchestra Lyrics
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There's a story that a padre tells,
Of a gay senor and senorita,
And the serenade of the bells.
Seems they asked the padre for permission
To be married early in the spring,
But their folks had made just one condition
That the mission bells had to ring.
And hadn't sounded for a long, long time.
Then one night the village was astounded
For the bells began to chime!
Still the bells are broken, goes the story
But if in your heart a true love dwells
They will ring for you in all their glory,
That's the serenade of the bells.
The lyrics to Paul Weston & His Orchestra's song Serenade tell the tale of a young couple in the quaint town of San Juanita who want to wed. They ask the padre for his blessing, but in order for their union to be approved by their respective families, the infamous mission bells must ring once again. The problem is, the bells haven't rung in years because they were broken. In a miraculous turn of events, the bells suddenly start ringing one night, causing astonishment and excitement throughout the village. The story concludes with the belief that if a true love exists in one's heart, the bells will ring once more, despite their outward appearance.
The lyrics of Serenade have a clear and unambiguous message about the power of love. The theme of the song lies in the fact that true love transcends barriers, real or perceived. The fact that the mission bells are broken, and have not rung for such a long period of time, is a metaphor for the brokenness love can face when up against adversity. Despite this, the bells still ring out true, reaffirming the belief that when love is real, it will always find a way to overcome any obstacle.
Line by Line Meaning
In the sleepy town of San Juanita,
San Juanita is a serene place where nothing ever happens.
There's a story that a padre tells,
A priest tells a fable to his congregation.
Of a gay senor and senorita,
A cheerful couple falls in love.
And the serenade of the bells.
The ringing of the mission bells played an essential role in their love story.
Seems they asked the padre for permission
The couple sought the priest's approval to get married.
To be married early in the spring,
They planned to have their wedding in the spring.
But their folks had made just one condition
Their parents set one requirement to satisfy before they agreed to the marriage.
That the mission bells had to ring.
The bells needed to ring as a symbol of approval from God.
Ev'ryone knew the bells were broken,
The community was aware that the bells were damaged and had not rung in ages.
And hadn't sounded for a long, long time.
The mission bells had remained silent for an extended period.
Then one night the village was astounded
One night, the city was taken aback by an unexpected sound.
For the bells began to chime!
To everyone's amazement, the bells began to ring.
Still the bells are broken, goes the story
Despite being broken, the legend continues that the bells still have their magical abilities.
But if in your heart a true love dwells
However, if you have genuine love in your heart,
They will ring for you in all their glory,
the bells will ring for you, filled with all their majestic beauty.
That's the serenade of the bells.
That is the story of the mission bells serenading the couples in love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL GOODHART, KAY TWOMEY, ALFRED J URBANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind