A nice addition to the songs is the actual ringing of bells that can be heard at the beginning of the song. The concept is incorporated into their live shows as well. Brian Johnson usually accompanies himself with a bell on stage, and rings it to Angus' riff.
The song is written from Satan's perspective. Throughout the song Brian Johnson sings from the first person's point of view, but putting himself in the shoes of Satan.
I don't know if "Hells Bells" is a hard rock or heavy metal, because Satan and death are common themes heard in heavy songs. Nevertheless, I'm incline to lean towards hard rock genre because AC/DC is definitely not a heavy band. Regardless of the genre of music, there no denying that this is good music.
Analysis of lyrics:
I’m coming on like a hurricane2 - "hurricane" symbolizes death, as it's often the case with real hurricanes
my lightning's flashing across the sky / you're only young but you're gonna die3,4- if Satan wants someone, he'll strike a lightning on that person
I won't take no prisoners won't spare no lives5 - Satan has a "take no prisoners" attitude, meaning it's always going to be death for the captured
I’ll give you black sensations up and down your spine15 - scary tactics of Satan, but implementation of such aren't described well enough.
if you're into evil you're a friend of mine16 - Satan likes evil people apparently, so if you don't want to get tortured by Stand in hell, do bad things while living on Earth.
- I’m rolling thunder pouring rain
- I’m coming on like a hurricane
- my lightning's flashing across the sky
- you're only young but you're gonna die
- I won't take no prisoners won't spare no lives
- nobody's putting up a fight
- I got my bell I’m gonna take you to hell
- I’m gonna get ya satan get ya
- hells bells, hells bells
- hells bells, you got me ringing
- hells bells, my temperature's high
- hells bells
- I’ll give you black sensations up and down your spine
- if you're into evil you're a friend of mine
- see the white light flashing as I split the night
- cos if good's on the left then I’m sticking to the right
- I won't take no prisoners won't spare no lives
- nobody's puttin' up a fight
- I got my bell I’m gonna take you to hell
- I’m gonna get ya satan get ya
- hells bells, hells bells
- hells bells, you got me ringing
- hells bells, my temperature's high
- hells bells
- hells bells, satan’ coming to you
- hells bells, he's ringing them now
- those hells bells, my temperature's high
- hells bells, across the sky
- hells bells, they're taking you down
- hells bells, they’re dragging you down
- hells bells, gonna split the night
- hells bells, there's no way to fight
- hells bells
Lyrics from: http://www.acdc.com/us/music/who-made-who/hells-bells
I don't know if it was intentional as it can be with art, but this song lyrics to me are abut the US bombing of N. Vietnam. Rolling Thunder is the name of the program that starting bombing N. Vietnam in about 1964-65. Sure looks like it to me.
ReplyDeleteUh, no
DeleteLooks to me like it is a warning or state that is prevalent here on earth. Emotions and desires. Forces of sight and sound that lead people away from themselves. Hells Bell .... the noise and vibration distraction. If your into evil (letting desires and emotions take you .. away from natural state) you're a friend of mine ....... of course someone always doing this is spending much time in this state, therefore a friend of the force, that is coming on like a hurricane. I think many songs are written with deeper meaning, they sing about the traps and pitfalls here yet are seen as "evil" or "demonic", too often taken at face value and the meaning lost on the majority. Nobody is putting up a fight, yeah, we are all distracted by something, giving in to emotion, "pick your poison" they say.
ReplyDelete