Wedding Bells
Williams Hank Lyrics
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You wanted me to see you change your name
I couldn't stand to see you wed another
But dear I hope you're happy just the same
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
That should be ringing out for you and me
Down the aisle with someone else you're walking
I planned a little cottage in the valley
I even bought a little band of gold
I thought some day I'd place it on your finger
But now the future looks so dark and cold
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
I hear the children laughing out with glee
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
Those wedding bells will never ring for me
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
And while the organ plays I love you truly
Please let me pretend that I am there
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
Ever since the day you set me free
I knew someday that you would wed another
But wedding bells will never ring for me
Williams Hank's "Wedding Bells" is a melancholic country song that expresses heartbreak and regret over the loss of a loved one to marriage. The lyrics are addressed to an ex-lover who has invited the singer to her wedding, which he cannot bear to attend. The singer reflects on what might have been if they had stayed together, imagining himself walking down the aisle with her instead of her new partner. He recounts how he had planned to buy her a house and a wedding ring, but now his hopes for a future with her are shattered. The song ends with a bittersweet image of the ex-lover wearing roses in her hair and the singer pretending to join in the ceremony through the music.
The song is a poignant expression of unrequited love, nostalgia, and longing for a lost relationship. It captures the pain of watching someone you love move on and start a new life without you. The use of wedding bells as a recurring motif and metaphor symbolizes the finality of the ex-lover's decision and the end of the singer's hopes for a shared future. The contrast between the joyous sounds of the children's laughter and the singer's solitary sorrowful thoughts is also significant, highlighting the sense of isolation and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
I have the invitation that you sent me
I have received the invitation that you sent me
You wanted me to see you change your name
You wanted me to witness you changing your name through marriage
I couldn't stand to see you wed another
I couldn't bear to watch you marry someone else
But dear I hope you're happy just the same
However, my dear, I still hope that you are happy
Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
The sound of wedding bells can be heard in the chapel
That should be ringing out for you and me
Those bells should be ringing for us instead
Down the aisle with someone else you're walking
You are walking down the aisle with someone else
Those wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get to hear those wedding bells ring for me
I planned a little cottage in the valley
I had planned to build a small house in the valley
I even bought a little band of gold
I had even bought a small wedding ring
I thought some day I'd place it on your finger
I had hoped to one day put it on your finger
But now the future looks so dark and cold
But now the future looks bleak and lonely
I hear the children laughing out with glee
I can hear the happy laughter of children
At home alone I hang my head in sorrow
I am at home alone, feeling sad and dejected
Those wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get to hear those wedding bells ring for me
I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
I imagine that I see a bouquet of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
There is an orange blossom in your hair
And while the organ plays I love you truly
As the organ plays, I pledge my true love to you
Please let me pretend that I am there
Please allow me to imagine that I am there with you
Ever since the day you set me free
Since the day you walked away from me
I knew someday that you would wed another
I had always known that someday you will marry someone else
But wedding bells will never ring for me
I will never get to hear those wedding bells ring for me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAUDE BOONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1949 {August 20th} Hank Williams' "Wedding Bells" peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Best-Selling Retail Folk (Country and Western) Records' chart, and for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "I'm Throwing Rice At The Girl I Love" by Eddy Arnold...
"Wedding Bells" was the first of six of his records to peak at #2 on the Billboard C&W charts, the other five were "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" {1949}, "I Can't Help It" {1952}, "Honky Tonk Blues" {1952}, "Half As Much" {1952}, and "Settin' The Woods On Fire" {1952}...
Sadly, Hank Williams, born Hiram Williams, passed away at the young age of 29 on January 1st, 1953...
May he R.I.P.
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Best-Selling Retail Folk Records' Top 10 on August 20th, 1949:
At #3, "Why Don't You Haul Me Off and Love Me?" by Wayne Raney
#4. "Lovesick Blues" by Hank Williams
#5. "Slipping Around" by Ernest Tubb
#6. "Tennessee Polka" by Red Foley
#7. "Room Full of Rose" by George Morgan
#8. "Country Boy" by 'Little' Jimmy Dickens
#9. "Slipping Around" by Floyd Tillman
#10. "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle" by Eddy Arnold
#10. "A Long Line of Love" by Michael Martin Murphey
@danahotz4639
Undoubtedly the greatest country musician who ever lived. A very spiritually deep man. He is the gold standard by which every other country artist has since been measured.
@lukedalton3184
No one could ever come close to this man legend
@gooner76
Legend
@zachariepetiquay8976
True, since I was born that I’ve been listening to him and I still couldn’t go close to him.
@jimmyjennings4089
I don't know how somebody that only made it to 29 years old could be so sad.
@gkrather
Sometimes you just have to get back to the real, heartfelt side of country music. That's why I'm listening to Hank this morning.
@jimilee4609
What a great sad song 👍 Hank Williams The Godfather of country music
@agnesbeach9768
Hank Williams Sr was my Dad's favourite singer and he sang his song's all the time and I really wish that I sang with my Dad. I loved to hear my Dad sing and I miss him so very much and I love him so much. I look forward to the day that I will be with him again and the rest off my family.
@snakefarm5427
Bought a HANK record at my local record shop yesterday for only 5$ and this song is on it and it is now my favorite record. Something about these old country records that is true love. I usually do listen to super heavy metal and black metal but there is nothing like this ...
@Crlpope
I wish there were record shops near me