With Bells On

The expression? - To be somewhere with "bells on" refers to a practice peddlers had when they roamed the area west of the Appalachians selling wares. To avoid Indians, they traveled as silently as possible until they reached a settled area. Then they unmuffled bells hung around their horses necks to announce their arrival to outlying cabins. Hence, "I'll be there with bells on." The peddlers' arrival was a much anticipated major event in the mostly tedious and hard lives of settlers, not only for the goods they sold, but also for the news, letters, and messages they carried from the outside world.

There are other interpretations.

goes back to the days before automobile, when it was the custom to deck out with the fanciest harness the horse that drew the carriage for special occasions. That, of course, was the harness ’with bells on.’" From the "Morris Dictionary of Word Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, Publishers, New York, 1977, 1988). Sources: http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/19/messages/411.html



The band? Sloan. Download Twice Removed here.

Or, OR, or... listen to this cover, which is actually pretty good.



I love that too.

(C. Murphy/Sloan)

While I'm at this funeral
You're in New York
I've been dividing my grieving
You're sleeping with a mutual friend

I dreamed that I kissed your mouth
And you thought about me
Over Christmas
Oh, you might know who I am
But I know who you are
Your heart is in your art
And mine's in New York

I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve
You're sleeping with a mutual friend
And I want to be with you again
And again
And again
I've thought about you a lot lately
So flash me your metal smile

I'm thinking about you
You're thinking about
New York
Though to you your friend was hurt
To him I owe him money
Will you pay back the thirty dollars
That he thinks I owe him?
But I don't owe him anything

If you had a funeral
I'd be there with bells on
La la la la la...

If I had a funeral
Would you even care?
Would you wear your silver dress?
Would you actually wear lipstick?
Would you lie upon my grave?
And be there with bells on
So you could ring me from this life?
From this life
From this life
So you could ring me from this life

And, while I'm here, another Sloan song that ends with "la, la, las... ", my favourite Sloan song... same album.





"I've seen you hair down at least five times, I've always wondered what makes a man commit crime... when even I would sometimes, if it weren't for the likes of you. "

(C. Murphy/Sloan)

I suppose I've seen you three times now
And I guess that I'm
Wondering how
You keep the boys at bay
I have a feeling that they
Are wondering too

I've seen you with your hair down at least five times
And always wondered
What makes a man commit crimes?
But even I would sometimes
If it weren't for the likes of you

And your glasses
Your hideous glasses
When you remove them
I would rather skip my classes and be caught
Than to entertain the thought
That someday you'll just put them on again
But I can make the best of it until then

Still I know you go deeper than your beauty
You go well above and beyond
The call of duty
To your country and your school
But I grew up too cool

I'm like the rest of them
With our thumbs up our asses
If you call I will come
But I'm about as quick as molasses
When I dream of you
You're not wearing your glasses
La la la la...

Both are required listening.