J. Roddy Walston And The Business - Heavy Bells Lyrics


J. Roddy Walston And The Business – Heavy Bells Lyrics

Mama knew my mind, would know this song
Mama knew my mind, would know this song
I muscle holler and a moan
I muscle holler and a moan
Black chords in the night
Daddy burnt the dirt, but the seed survived
Daddy burnt the dirt, but the seed survived
Holler and a moan
I muscle holler and a moan
Black chords in the night

I know that old catholic tone
I know that old catholic tone
The heavy bells
The heavy bells
The heavy bells
The heavy bells are tolling out a tune
The heavy bells
The heavy bells
Oh, God
I felt that metal move
You’re gonna wake up
You’re gonna wake up
You’re gonna wake up
Find the heavy bells
Toll their tune for you too

Black sounds shake upon his folds
Black sounds shake upon his folds
Hear that nerve hound moan
I hear that nerve hound moan
Chop talking in the night
Blood and honey fixed to his beard
Chaser to the taste
I’ve come to fear
Hear that nerve hound moan
I hear that nerve hound moan
Chop talking in the night

I know that old catholic tone
I know that old catholic tone
The heavy bells
The heavy bells
The heavy bells
The heavy bells are tolling out a tune
The heavy bells
The heavy bells
Oh, God
I felt that metal move
You’re gonna wake up
You’re gonna wake up
You’re gonna wake up
Find the heavy bells
Toll their tune for you too

All hail, heavy bells
All hail, heavy bells
All hail, heavy bells
All hail, heavy bells
All hail, heavy bells
All hail, heavy bells

[Lyrics to Heavy Bells by J. Roddy Walston And The Business]

Thanks to user Natalya for the contribution!



How do you rate these lyrics and song?
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (90 votes, average: 4.53 out of 5)




Show Comments

16 comments written so far.

Grab the feed.

  • Avatar photo Ken says:

    I’ve listed to this song hundreds of times, and I think the published lyrics have a small error.
    It should read:
    “I eat a dead hambone, chop chop it in the night”

  • Avatar photo Elijah says:

    I think its about his dad being an alcoholic and making the house unstable, and the bells that would ring each day at the nearby church were the most stable thing in his life. I think the whole 2nd verse is describing his dad.
    He also directly talks about his dad fucking up the situation in the first verse (Daddy burnt the dirt…) I think “muscle holler and a moan, black chords in the night” is just about him singing dark songs throughout the night because he is sad. I think “Chop talking in the night” means fighting. At first i thought it was about growing up catholic but the second verse kinda throws it off so i think its about his childhood with an alcoholic father.

  • Avatar photo Kate says:

    This song is badass! I can’t get enough of it! Really great to hear some bold new songs, I hope this band keeps putting out material like this for a long time!

  • Avatar photo krysta_marieee says:

    somebody should submit my music (: new artist here!

  • Avatar photo Sledgehammer says:

    This song is the shit. It’s amazing to have a new band come on the radar that kicks like these guys do. I’m buying this and all you pirates out there need to cut that shit out and support your artists. Can’t wait to see this live!

  • Avatar photo Don says:

    I believe this song is about him practicing at night time and giving his parents a hard time.

    “Mama knew my mind, would know this song” Mama knew because she witnessed how much effort and passion he put into singing growing up.
    “I muscle holler and a moan” Is how he sings
    “Black chords in the night” Him playing his Guitar chords at night
    “Daddy burnt the dirt, but the seed survived” His dad burnt his instrument/albums etc but his passion survived
    “You’re gonna wake up” To his parents who are sleeping
    “Find the heavy bells Toll their tune for you too” His parents are gonna wake up to the sound of drum bells

    • Avatar photo Tim Change says:

      The song was played 2-3 three times a day til the middle of Dec.(started in Oct.), since then it’s never played. Houston radio sucks, there’s only 1 rock station, and they play around 5 groups… Metalica, Linkin Park, Lorde (thats a joke), and The Neighborhood, and while I like Pearl Jam, they play Sirens @3 times every hour and that song came out @ the same time Heavy Bells came on. They claim they play the top 10, but I believe it’s only the top 10 that they air, . Other songs never make it cuz they never get air time.It’s a shame, there’s alot of good music out there we never hear.

  • Avatar photo Mary presnell says:

    I just can’t get enough of this song!! Love it.

  • Avatar photo XDDDDDD says:

    This is an awesome song!! hope it makes a huge hit

  • Avatar photo Karrinah says:

    Great song!

  • Avatar photo Tim Change says:

    I guess that makes sense, at least part of the lyrics PJ !!

  • Avatar photo Sean says:

    I think PG is pretty right on. I think it’s about growing up in the south from a religious background. There are a lot of references and inferences I think. The “holler and moan” happens a lot in southern religion. “I know that old catholic tone” is because J. Roddys grandma was very religious. She taught him piano. He could hear music. He recognized that particular sound. He was in a choir. “Chop talking in the night” just plain sounds church-y related. Maybe speaking in tongues? Or, church service at night? The heavy bells are rung at 6 am, noon and 6 pm. “All hail the heavy bells” is to hail something that is welcomed enthusiastically (revered) or maybe it means get your ass to church. “I felt that metal move” could mean he was moved by the sound of the bells ringing or the heavy metal music background or he is moved by God. “You’re gonna wake up” is to become a believer. All of this is just my thoughts by listening to it so many times and insomnia.

  • Avatar photo Tim Change says:

    Every now and then, a tune just seems to grab ya, and this is one of them songs. Played it a half a dozen times today, I can’t be certain what the meaning of the lyrics are, but I just can’t get enough of it for now. Wish I knew what it was about.

    • Avatar photo PG says:

      I can’t remember where I read this, but basically the song is about how when the singer was a kid, his parents were really strict and religious and didn’t want him listening to heavy metal. Obviously that didn’t stop him because he went on to be a famous rock star. “Mama knew my mind would know this song” – she knew he was into that kind of music, “Daddy burnt the dirt but the seed survived” – his dad threw out / burned his albums, but his love for rock never died.

  • Avatar photo James says:

    Ha, I love this song,was rocking out to it all last week! Oh, and I must say, I like this site and I am VERY grateful you posted my song Fight the Sunrise!

Leave a Reply to PG Cancel.

Comment on this page. Discuss song meanings here, state your opinion and share it with others,
or maybe even write a review in your own words.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Your opinion is very important. Thank you!   Please Register or Login to remove the security check.

Lyrics Information

Artist J. Roddy Walston And The Business Lyrics
Album"Essential Tremors" (2013)

Album Cover

J. Roddy Walston And The Business - Heavy Bells Lyrics

Top Lyrics Today