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Words from the artist’s archive
One More Bell lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Bell one... breathe in. Slip smoke... breathe out. I fold my hands on the counter. I call it calm, not doubt.
Chorus
One more bell, one more bet One more breath I ain't spent If the slip turns black, I won't look back Amen, amen One more bell, one more bet One more debt I call a test I put my peace where the red lights flash Amen, amen
Verse 1
I had five on a feeling, ten on a name Laughing with the clerk like it was rain Coffee gone cold by the second quarter Loose change singing in the cup by the door I said it ain't deep, just a little spin Just a small prayer with a barcode skin Bell in the app made the chapel blink Green light, red light, don't think, don't think
Verse 2
First miss taught patience, second taught nerve Third one told me what I deserve Fourth one whispered, count it as school Tuition paid to a flickering fool I wrote each L like a verse in pen Learned how the floor says try again Choir in the ceiling, bass in my chest I baptized losses and called them tests
Chorus
One more bell, one more bet One more breath I ain't spent If the slip turns black, I won't look back Amen, amen One more bell, one more bet One more debt I call a test I put my peace where the red lights flash Amen, amen
Verse 3
I moved from twenties to rent in a week Quiet as dust on a widow's cheek Card limit climbing like candle smoke Every little win had a velvet rope Nobody saw when the numbers grew teeth I still spoke soft, I still looked clean A man can drown with his shirt tucked in One clean collar, whole house caved in
Bridge
Bell four slow, nobody claps Phone face down like a holy map I hear my mother's key in the hall I hear no roof in the rain at all
Verse 4
Final game loading, room gone blue Church bell chopped into 808 two The slip burns slow in a glass ash tray Like incense asking me not to stay I don't shake now, that scares me most The calm came dressed like a friendly ghost One more number, one more name One last door with a painted flame
Chorus
One more bell, one more bet One more breath I ain't spent If the slip turns black, I won't look back Amen, amen One more bell, one more bet No more roof, no more check I put my peace where the red lights flash Amen, amen
Verse 5
When it fell, I didn't break Just watched the ash lift off the stake Wallet light, hands still warm I let the silence sign the form No curse for luck, no deal with sky No thunder cracked, no angel cried I walked out gentle, pockets clean Like losing all was finally leaving me
Outro
Bell. Breath. Slip to ash. Amen.
Inside the recording
Bell one... breathe in. Slip smoke... breathe out.
One more bell, one more bet One more breath I ain't spent
Bell. Breath. Slip to ash.
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.