It was only a short period of his career (about two and a half albums’ worth), but the so-called “born again” era for Bob Dylan proved quite polarizing. Part of the reason why it was so controversial is Dylan seemed somewhat strident in his approach.
In 1989, Dylan clandestinely reached back into that type of songwriting for the track “Ring Them Bells,” one of the standout songs on his superb Oh Mercy record. Only this time around, his point of view was delicate and measured, leading to a song that was far more comforting than controversial.
Bob’s Church “Bells”
Bob Dylan’s 1979 album Slow Train Coming contained a batch of songs directly related to his conversion to Christianity. Many fans and critics didn’t give the album a fair shake, despite it being generally strong from a lyrical standpoint and featuring some of the strongest instrumental and vocal performances in the Dylan catalog.
Many just couldn’t handle the notion that Dylan was sermonizing on these songs. From his perspective, however, his life had changed with his conversion, and that was taking up all the space in his heart and his head. He simply couldn’t write about anything else.
That said, some of the songs from Slow Train Coming and it’s follow up (Saved) didn’t show much patience for those who didn’t share Dylan’s beliefs. He mostly moved away from religious material after the album Shot of Love in 1981. But in 1989, he once again dotted a song with Biblical references, only this time, he did so in a much less imposing manner.
Featuring Dylan’s lovely piano work, atmospheric keyboards by Malcolm Burn, and softly reverberating guitar from Daniel Lanois, who produced the Oh Mercy album, “Ring Them Bells,” just in musical terms, is a sweet, gentle creation. The lyrics follow suit, as they touch on Christian themes of charity and caring for fellow humans. But it didn’t come off as overbearing in its approach as some of Dylan’s previous religious themed material.
Dissecting the Lyrics of “Ring Them Bells”
The bells in “Ring Them Bells” represent not just a typical beckoning for the faithful to congregate, but also a wake-up call for those who are either unaware of or uninterested in the problems faced by mortals everywhere. Dylan sings with compassion dripping from his voice, and great concern for the state of his surroundings: The world’s on its side.
Each verse begins with Dylan calling for the bells to be rung in places far and wide, with an iron hand, if need be, to get the message across. The situation is dire, as the sentinels are failing and the people are straying while to find the truth: Oh, the shepherd is asleep / Where the willows weep / And the mountains are filled with lost sheep.
The middle eight of “Ring Them Bells” is a thing of wonder. Notice how the melody starts out in a bit of a somber place before eking its way towards hope. Dylan runs through a list of those who need the bells to propel them out of their difficulties. It closes with a touching plea: Ring them bells for the time that flies / For the child that cries / When their innocence dies.
In the final verse, Dylan asks the bells to toll for those on the right side of the eternal struggle. His closing lines make it clear how the gray areas are seeping into the black and white of it all: Oh, the lines are long / And the fighting is strong / And they’re breaking down the distance between right and wrong.
We think of Bob Dylan’s songwriting in terms of its skill, eloquence, daring, and ambition. But we too often disregard just how much of his work is based on empathy. “Ring Them Bells” is as earnest as Dylan has ever been in this regard. The song may allude to Biblical themes, but it’s mostly concerned with the universal notion of helping those who need it the most.
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