They are best-known during the late 1960s and early 1970s for popularizing the hits "Up, Up and Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "One Less Bell to Answer", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All", and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", as well as the eponymous 5th Dimension and The Magic Garden LP recordings.
The five original members were Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. They have recorded for several different labels over their long careers. Their first work appeared on the Soul City label, which was started by Imperial Records/United Artists Records recording artist Johnny Rivers. The group would later record for Bell/Arista Records, ABC Records, and Motown Records.
Some of the songwriters popularized by The 5th Dimension later went on to careers of their own, especially Ashford & Simpson, who wrote "California Soul". The group is also notable for having more success with the songs of Laura Nyro than Nyro did herself, particularly in the cases of "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", and "Save the Country" The group also covered music by well known songwriters such as the song "One Less Bell to Answer", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. And perhaps best of all, they became great interpreters of the songs and music of Jimmy Webb, who penned their original mega-hit "Up, Up, and Away", including an entire recording of memorable Webb songs called The Magic Garden.
One Less Bell To Answer
The 5th Dimension Lyrics
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One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after
I should be happy
But all I do is cry (cry, cry, no more laughter)
Oh, I should be happy (oh, why did he go)
I only know that since he left my life's so empty
Though I try to forget, it just can't be done
Each time the doorbell rings I still run (I still run)
I don't know how in the world to stop thinking of him
'Cause I still love him so (love him so)
I end each day the way I start out crying my heart out
Oh, one less man to pick up after
No more laughter, no more love
Since he went, oh, he went away (he went away)
(One less bell to answer) why did he leave me
(Oh, why, why did he leave)
Now I've got one less egg to fry (one less bell to answer)
One less egg to fry (oh, why, why did he leave)
And all I do is cry
(One less bell to answer) because a man told me goodbye
(Oh, why, why did he leave)
Somebody tell me please (one less bell to answer)
Where did he go, why did he go (oh, why, why did he leave)
Tell me, how could he leave me
The song "One Less Bell To Answer" by The 5th Dimension is a melancholic song about a woman who has just lost her lover. The opening lyrics, "One less bell to answer, one less egg to fry, one less man to pick up after," suggest that the woman is relieved that she no longer has to take care of her lover, but as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that she is actually heartbroken and can't seem to move on from him. She is constantly thinking about him, as she says "each time the doorbell rings I still run" and "I don't know how in the world to stop thinking of him."
The chorus of the song repeats the line "One less bell to answer, one less egg to fry," which serves as a reminder that even though the woman should be happy that her former lover is no longer around, she is instead consumed with sadness and grief. The song ends with her asking, "Where did he go, why did he go, tell me how could he leave me," revealing that she is still struggling to come to terms with the end of their relationship.
Overall, "One Less Bell To Answer" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the pain of heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on from a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
One less bell to answer
One less thing to worry about since he left.
One less egg to fry
A small convenience, but it doesn't make up for the heartache.
One less man to pick up after
No more cleaning up after him, but it doesn't make up for the void he left.
I should be happy
On paper, my life should be happier without him, but it's not.
But all I do is cry (cry, cry, no more laughter)
I can't stop crying even though there's nothing to laugh about anymore.
Oh, I should be happy (oh, why did he go)
I keep telling myself I should be happy, but I can't help but wonder why he left.
I only know that since he left my life's so empty
My life feels empty without him, even though I can't pinpoint why.
Though I try to forget, it just can't be done
I'm trying to move on, but I can't seem to forget about him.
Each time the doorbell rings I still run (I still run)
I still hope it's him at the door, even though I know it won't be.
I don't know how in the world to stop thinking of him
I'm struggling to move on and stop thinking about him.
'Cause I still love him so (love him so)
I still have feelings for him, even though it hurts me.
I end each day the way I start out crying my heart out
I spend every day in tears over losing him.
No more laughter, no more love
Without him, my life is devoid of joy and love.
Since he went, oh, he went away (he went away)
He's gone and it feels like a part of me has gone with him.
(One less bell to answer) why did he leave me
I wish I knew why he left.
(Oh, why, why did he leave)
I'm struggling with the unanswered question of why he left.
Now I've got one less egg to fry (one less bell to answer)
I have one less thing to worry about, but it doesn't make me feel better.
And all I do is cry
I can't seem to stop crying over losing him.
(One less bell to answer) because a man told me goodbye
I'm heartbroken over a man leaving me.
(Oh, why, why did he leave)
I keep asking myself why he left.
Somebody tell me please (one less bell to answer)
I'm pleading for someone to help me understand why he left.
Where did he go, why did he go (oh, why, why did he leave)
I'm desperate to know why he left me and where he went.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt F. Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind