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Bells started with two friends, J… Read Full Bio ↴http://www.facebook.com/wearebells

Bells started with two friends, Jon Hershey and Sean Hennessey, back in 2005 after Hershey left metal band, August Burns Red. Hershey and Hennessey played casually together for years, with a number of line up changes.

In 2010, Sean left This or the Apocalypse to rejoin Jon to seriously pursue music together, which is when Bells was born . Around this time Bells wrote and recorded their cover of August Burns Red's "Pangaea" which was included on the deluxe edition of the album "Leveler".

In the months following the release of Leveler, Bells started writing and recording their first album at Hennessey's Studio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At this time, Jon and Sean asked close friend Tim Kettering to join the band. Bells is set to release the album entitled "Our Forest, Our Empire" August 28th.

Pangaea
The Bells Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Closed off, we wake from the dusk (the dusk)
Only to step out into open air
Just to see the same clouds opening (yeah)
Into open air, only to step out

If this is a place people dream of, (people dream of)
Insomnia is the only cure the only antidote
You've been deceived into thinking this is the perfect life

It's an illusion to your perception, you've been deceived

I wish time was still ancient so I could bridge the gap (bridge the gap)
Between here, between there, between you and I (between you and I)
Frustration is setting in
I am seeing red (I'm seeing red)
This blessing is a curse
I am seeing red (I am seeing red)

Counting all the things that I took for granted
Counting down the days
Watching the clock as it just stands still
To just sail away, sail away, sail away
Waiting for the morning that takes me home
That takes me home, to take me home

This bittersweet dream that I dreamt, oh Pangaea
All of this is worth every penny every cent
I would give back everything just to be back, back home

This is a bittersweet dream I've dreamt
Oh Pangaea, where have you gone?
I'm at all four corners of this world
Oh Pangaea, what have you done?
This is a bittersweet dream I've dreamt
Oh Pangaea, where have you gone?

I'm at all four corners of this world
Pangaea, what have you done?

Overall Meaning

The Bells' song Pangaea explores the idea of the loss of a utopia, with the metaphorical reference to the ancient supercontinent. The opening lines "Closed off, we wake from the dusk, only to step out into open air, just to see the same clouds opening" suggests the frustration of being trapped in a cycle - even after leaving a confined space, one is met with the same view. The repetition of "open air" further emphasises the opening up to opportunities, but being disappointed by the lack of change.

The second verse tackles the issue of idealisation, with the poignant line "You've been deceived into thinking this is the perfect life, it's an illusion to your perception, you've been deceived." This line encourages the listener to question their own perception of happiness and whether or not it is influenced by external factors, such as the media or societal expectations. The chorus repeats the phrase "Oh Pangaea" as a lament for the loss of this utopia. The last verse talks about the longing for home and the sacrifices one would make to return, such as "I would give back everything just to be back, back home."

Overall, the song is about the loss of something once idealised, whether it be a place or a way of life. It explores the feelings of frustration and disillusionment, as well as the longing for something once cherished.

Line by Line Meaning

Closed off, we wake from the dusk (the dusk)
After staying closed off from the world, we wake up at dusk.

Only to step out into open air
To then step out into the open air.

Just to see the same clouds opening (yeah)
Only to see the same clouds opening up again.

Into open air, only to step out
To repeatedly step out into the open air.

If this is a place people dream of, (people dream of)
If this is a place people dream about,

Insomnia is the only cure the only antidote
The only cure or remedy for this place is insomnia.

You've been deceived into thinking this is the perfect life
You've been misled into thinking this place is perfect.

It's an illusion to your perception, you've been deceived
It's all an illusion, and you've been tricked into believing it.

I wish time was still ancient so I could bridge the gap (bridge the gap)
I wish I could bridge the gap that exists between here and there, like it was possible in ancient times.

Between here, between there, between you and I (between you and I)
The gap exists between the places, but also between us.

Frustration is setting in
I'm starting to get frustrated.

I am seeing red (I'm seeing red)
I'm becoming increasingly angry.

This blessing is a curse
This situation is both a blessing and a curse.

I am seeing red (I am seeing red)
I'm still getting angrier.

Counting all the things that I took for granted
I'm realizing all the things I took for granted.

Counting down the days
Counting the days until I can go back home.

Watching the clock as it just stands still
Watching the clock go by slowly while waiting.

To just sail away, sail away, sail away
To just leave and sail away.

Waiting for the morning that takes me home
Waiting for the morning when I can finally go back home.

That takes me home, to take me home
The morning that brings me back home.

This bittersweet dream that I dreamt, oh Pangaea
This bittersweet dream that I had about this place, Pangaea.