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Mike Doughty — I Hear The Bells
Album: Haughty Melodic
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 561









Released: 2006
Length: 4:13
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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I hear the bells
Down in the canyons
It's snow in New York
Some blue December
And I'm gone to the moon
About you, girl
And I'm calling to you
Throughout the world
And, well, I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant and

I hear the bells
They are like emeralds
And glints in the night
Commas and ampersands
Your moony face
So inaccessible
Your inner mind
So inexpressible
I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant and

Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum

I'm seeking girls
In sales and marketing
Let's go make out
Up in the balcony
Your business dress
So businesslike
And I'm tossing the blouse
Over a chairback
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant and

Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum

You snooze, you lose
Well, I have snost and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
So fascinating
And I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant and

Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Comments (87)add comment
 RabbitEars wrote:

I read it as a critique of a narcissist.  He's always been more about interesting hooks and odd phrases - I've never tried to analyze what his songs are about. 
 
Fair enough. 
Posted 4 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
Neu and Kraftwerk
Posted 4 years ago by keelo    [ Reply ]
 Grammarcop wrote:


I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This is the kind of thinking that qualifies a man to be a justice on the Supreme Court these days.  
 
And this kind of comment qualifies you for what?
Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 Grammarcop wrote:
I'm seeking girls 
In sales and marketing 
Let's go make out 
Up in the balcony 
Your business dress 
So businesslike
And I'm tossing the blouse 
Over a chairback
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant and

Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum

I have always considered Mike Doughty to be a shallow songwriter, but I find this thoroughly sophomoric. The bells are ringing triumphantly because he's scoring with a woman? Does he also put notches in his belt?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This is the kind of thinking that qualifies a man to be a justice on the Supreme Court these days.  
 
I read it as a critique of a narcissist.  He's always been more about interesting hooks and odd phrases - I've never tried to analyze what his songs are about. 
Posted 6 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
I'm seeking girls 
In sales and marketing 
Let's go make out 
Up in the balcony 
Your business dress 
So businesslike
And I'm tossing the blouse 
Over a chairback
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant
And I can (I can)
Hear the bells are ringing joyful and triumphant and

Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum
Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum

I have always considered Mike Doughty to be a shallow songwriter, but I find this thoroughly sophomoric. The bells are ringing triumphantly because he's scoring with a woman? Does he also put notches in his belt?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This is the kind of thinking that qualifies a man to be a justice on the Supreme Court these days.  
Posted 6 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
 clwguy wrote:
{#Roflol} 

dragon1952 wrote:

It's actually dum-dum-dum-dumdy-dum-dum

 

 
On the contrary, the lyrics listed show it to be: Dum, dum, dum, dum-be-dum-dum.
Posted 6 years ago by VV    [ Reply ]
Saw him do this on his tour last year, tight band and really fun show!
Posted 6 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
{#Roflol} 

dragon1952 wrote:

It's actually dum-dum-dum-dumdy-dum-dum

 


Posted 6 years ago by clwguy    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
This started off quirky and interesting, but has unfortunately become intensely irritating. Dum dum dumdy-die dum PSD (aah, blessed relief). A shame.

 
It's actually dum-dum-dum-dumdy-dum-dum
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
This started off quirky and interesting, but has unfortunately become intensely irritating. Dum dum dumdy-die dum PSD (aah, blessed relief). A shame.
Posted 9 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 Derecho wrote:
Sounds like autotune, but it's not autotune.  A remarkable feat.

 
Mike has some sort of droning effect going on behind his sung words—Tuvan throat singing, perhaps?
Posted 10 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
"Well, I have snost and lost" gives it an automatic 7; earwig hooks kick it to an 8. 
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
A really good album overall.  A good track but like others more from this, like Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well.  Love to hear some other things from him too, like from El Oso, or better yet Soul Coughing!
Posted 11 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 oso_negro wrote:
Dumb dumb dumb dumbty dumbt DUMB!!!!
 
Spot on! {#Lol}
Posted 11 years ago by Hippostar    [ Reply ]
Kind-of hearing Jay Farrar here.  Regardless: 8
Posted 11 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
 coy wrote:

thank you romeo for coming up with something original
 
 

Thank you!  Hope you are having a marvelous time right now...

everybody in my church loves this song...
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
solid 8 {#Jump}
Posted 11 years ago by blueice7    [ Reply ]
oso_negro wrote:
Terrible!
 

Terribly good.  8, and maybe more.
Posted 11 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
This is the guy from Soul Coughing! Read the wikipedia entry, pretty interesting history.
Posted 11 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
Dumb dumb dumb dumbty dumbt DUMB!!!!
Posted 11 years ago by oso_negro    [ Reply ]
 scraig wrote:
where has this song been my whole life? 8 on first listen.
 
Ditto.
Posted 12 years ago by Phlegmaticman    [ Reply ]
Terrible!
Posted 12 years ago by oso_negro    [ Reply ]
where has this song been my whole life? 8 on first listen.
Posted 12 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Nice song.
Posted 12 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
 mojcek wrote:
I hear Kraftwerk's "Autobahn"

I was wondering if I was the only one.
 
I didn't hear the VW starting and this is a lot shorter.
Posted 12 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
best part of this song is he says snozzed and lost
Posted 12 years ago by dogpound    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...
 
thank you romeo for coming up with something original
 
Posted 12 years ago by coy    [ Reply ]
Sounds like autotune, but it's not autotune.  A remarkable feat.
Posted 13 years ago by Derecho    [ Reply ]
I hear Kraftwerk's "Autobahn"

I was wondering if I was the only one.


Posted 13 years ago by mojcek    [ Reply ]
Hey, Romeo, I was wondering if you like this song?
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]

I just really like it.


Posted 13 years ago by Gatlinburger    [ Reply ]
This guy has me right on the razor's edge - his sonoric voice makes me want to end something, but his lyrics are weirdly fun.  I don't think I could take an entire CD of his music, but a couple of songs, spaced strategically in my life, might be like a lit fountain or a cluster of scented plants (well, I know landscaping, so I'm using metaphors.)

Guh.
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
I really like Mike Doughty's style — I like his intensity behind the lyrics and his vocals.  Not as catchy or forceful as "Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well" but still fairly rocking.{#Angel}
Posted 14 years ago by raulman1    [ Reply ]
Did he really say "I snozzed and lost"?  Hahahaha!  That's what I heard and it cracks me up!
Posted 14 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb indeed.
 

Yes, agreed. {#Doh}
Posted 14 years ago by fevertree    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb indeed.
 
^WHS^
Posted 14 years ago by ncollingridge    [ Reply ]

"seeking girls in sales & marketing"....? ha!


Posted 14 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
Its snow in Flagstaff (this morning)
Posted 14 years ago by lysisphere    [ Reply ]
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb indeed.
Posted 14 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
Loved this album from top to bottom. He hasn't been quite this good since.
Posted 14 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
Kinda Christmas-y....
Posted 14 years ago by revsully    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good for the ears...
  I disagree.  I find his monotone, nasal voice is grating on my ears.


Posted 14 years ago by flyboy    [ Reply ]
I hear Kraftwerk's "Autobahn"
Posted 15 years ago by Forest267    [ Reply ]
Oh, I love Mike.  Thanks, and play more!
Posted 15 years ago by viciousfishes    [ Reply ]
This song brings me back to college...feeling somewhat carefree yet scared shitless for what the future holds!
Posted 15 years ago by FluorideFreeMN    [ Reply ]
Hear the loud alarum bells -
Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of night
How they scream out their affright!

Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
Great, fun album - start to finish.

Loved his distinct voice back in the Soul Coughing days, and it's still cool.
Posted 15 years ago by MetroOwl    [ Reply ]
 lukekingland wrote:
*sniffle* I miss Soul Coughing.
 
S.C. = awesome live band.  I like the rest of this album, but then I like his voice and oddball lyrics.  I can see where this isn't for everyone but it is a good fit for Radio Paradise.

Posted 15 years ago by ROSSinDETROIT    [ Reply ]
 fjordless wrote:
Best song on the album, I think.
 
If true this must be one of the worst albums of all time.

Posted 16 years ago by OldFrenchie    [ Reply ]
 Tonedeaf wrote:
Maybe it is just me, but I really am not wild about this style of almost monotone singing. There are several popular bands (Dave Matthews? and others similar) that the singing just kills it for me even though some of the music rocks! It just gives the song a bit of a droning quality.
 

Agreed.
Posted 16 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
lukekingland wrote:
*sniffle* I miss Soul Coughing.


me too


Posted 16 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
that quote was from a South Park episodeZygomatic wrote:
damnit somebody already beat me to it
Posted 16 years ago by Gotdablues    [ Reply ]
the bells are ringing by tmbg would go well with this
Posted 17 years ago by beardp    [ Reply ]
wmstadler wrote:
This tune is bustlingly sincere and sickningly sweet.
cool adverb "bustingly"..
Posted 17 years ago by sukilau    [ Reply ]
This brings to mind a poem - assigned reading in high school - "the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells... " and so on. I was horribly bothered by the repetition, which seemed senseless. That, and a musical theme from a South Park episode "dum, dum, dum, dumb..." and so on - which I found entertaining. Whatever...
Posted 17 years ago by ellenaut    [ Reply ]
Maybe it is just me, but I really am not wild about this style of almost monotone singing. There are several popular bands (Dave Matthews? and others similar) that the singing just kills it for me even though some of the music rocks! It just gives the song a bit of a droning quality.
Posted 17 years ago by Tonedeaf    [ Reply ]
This tune is bustlingly sincere and sickningly sweet.
Posted 17 years ago by wmstadler    [ Reply ]
This song was great. Much better than Soul Coughing, IMHO. Really liked this. Kind of a twisted Xmas tune.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Best song on the album, I think.
Posted 18 years ago by fjordless    [ Reply ]
psycholynx wrote:
This song is Duuuuumb Duuuuumb Duuuuumb Dumb Ba Duumb-Duuuuuuumb
Zygomatic wrote:
damnit somebody already beat me to it
it's just too true...
Posted 19 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
psycholynx wrote:
This song is Duuuuumb Duuuuumb Duuuuumb Dumb Ba Duumb-Duuuuuuumb
damnit somebody already beat me to it
Posted 19 years ago by Zygomatic    [ Reply ]
"You snooze, you lose; well I have snost and lost"
Posted 19 years ago by LLMikeJ    [ Reply ]
I meant to say, "lisssssstening."
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
This song is Duuuuumb Duuuuumb Duuuuumb Dumb Ba Duumb-Duuuuuuumb
Posted 19 years ago by psycholynx    [ Reply ]
Gregorama wrote:
LosssssAngeleeeez.
extra tall, extra wide.
Posted 19 years ago by LLMikeJ    [ Reply ]
LosssssAngeleeeez.
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
*sniffle* I miss Soul Coughing.
Posted 19 years ago by lukekingland    [ Reply ]
I like this. Of course, I like Soul Coughing too, so that would kind of make sense. He also does the lead vocals on BT's "Never Gonna Come Back Down" which I enjoy as well.
Posted 19 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
This song feels too bland to me.
Posted 19 years ago by Forgone    [ Reply ]
this guy voice...makes my ears bla--eeed.
Posted 19 years ago by tony620d    [ Reply ]
Anyone else hear MST 3000 theme song in here?
Posted 19 years ago by psycholynx    [ Reply ]
madtowner11 wrote:
I thought this was Soul Coughing when I first heard it. I guess that's a compliment to Mike.
Mee too! Guess that's why I like it.
Posted 19 years ago by djsee    [ Reply ]
It's like a preview... this album release date is May 3rd. First time I've heard of this guy. Pretty cool ~ok, so first time I heard him and knew who he was since I never really got into Soul Coughing.
Posted 19 years ago by rainfairy    [ Reply ]
madtowner11 wrote:
I thought this was Soul Coughing when I first heard it. I guess that's a compliment to Mike.
That's cuz he's the lead singer. First 4 ratings - all 7, followed by an 8. I'm sure there's a 1 somewhere in the near future... nice start though.
Posted 19 years ago by LLMikeJ    [ Reply ]
meh.
Posted 19 years ago by fluorophore    [ Reply ]
I thought this was Soul Coughing when I first heard it. I guess that's a compliment to Mike.
Posted 19 years ago by madtowner11    [ Reply ]