Ring Them Bells

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a powerful, almost apocalyptic call to action, urging the ringing of bells across diverse landscapes and for various groups. It begins with a broad, sweeping command, "Ring them bells, ye heathen," juxtaposed with sacred imagery like "sanctuaries," suggesting a universal, perhaps desperate, need for proclamation. The world is described as being "on its side" with "time running backwards," creating a disorienting sense of societal or cosmic upheaval, mirrored by the "bride" also moving in reverse. This sets a tone of urgency and inversion. The central tension arises from the contrast between the act of ringing bells – a traditional signal of warning, celebration, or religious observance – and the chaotic, morally ambiguous world depicted. Figures like "St. Peter" and "sweet Martha" are invoked, alongside "the blind and the deaf" and "all of us who are left," indicating a plea for awareness and perhaps salvation amidst widespread confusion. The "rush hour" on the "wheel and the plow" and the "sun is going down / Upon the sacred cow" paint a picture of a society in decline, where established norms are being questioned or overthrown. A striking craft element is the recurring, almost mantra-like repetition of "Ring them bells," which builds in intensity. This is paired with a series of stark, contrasting images and pronouncements. The lyrics move from the general ("the world's on its side") to the specific ("the poor man's son"), and from the spiritual ("God is one") to the grim reality of "lost sheep" and a "shepherd is asleep." The final verses introduce a chilling vision of "the chosen few / Who will judge the many when the game is through," and the poignant image of "the child that cries when innocence dies," directly linking the bell-ringing to profound loss and impending judgment. This lyrical construction is effective because it taps into a primal need for signals and meaning in times of crisis. The repeated command to "ring them bells" acts as an anchor, while the surrounding imagery of inversion, decline, and judgment creates a palpable sense of dread and anticipation. The lyrics don't offer easy answers but rather amplify the feeling of being on the precipice, making the act of ringing bells feel like a necessary, albeit possibly futile, response to a world where "innocence dies" and "right and wrong" are blurred.