Song # 16: “Ringing of the Bells” by Robert Randall

Hello Friends:

 

“Ringing of the Bells” by Robert Randall is the 16^th song in The FIRST Alive with Clive Top 20.

 

Robert performed “Ringing of the Bells” during his interview on Alive with Clive on April 16, 2010.

 

Here is a picture of me with Robert that was taken in the TV studio before his interview on Alive with Clive:

 

 

 

Clive Swersky with Robert Randall

 

As mentioned on his MySpace page, which you’ll find at www.myspace.com/randallsongs, Robert is a New Jersey based songwriter who writes in a variety of genres including Pop, Country, Blues, Rock and Folk.

 

During his interview on Alive with Clive, Robert mentioned that he has been writing songs for his entire adult life: “I write for myself.  I primarily write because I have to.  I really don’t have a choice.  It’s the way I vent,… which is a great way to do it because you can turn what are maybe bad situations into something beautiful – a song.”

 

He has always had a dream to be a professional songwriter and has been encouraged to do so by people who have heard his songs.

 

The loss of his full-time job in 2006 provided the impetus for him to kickstart his desire to write songs for a living and he has been devoting his time and attention to songwriting ever since by networking through the Songwriters Guild and other organizations, and with the support of other songwriters, including Robert Daniels and Kylie Edmond, both of whom have been guests on Alive with Clive. 

 

“Ringing of the Bells” is a hauntingly beautiful song similar in style to songs sung by Bruce Springsteen about memories anchored to the sound of the ringing of church bells.  For most people, Robert explained, the ringing of church bells produces happy memories.  But Robert wrote the song in the aftermath of the passing of his father, with recent memories of his father’s funeral still in his mind, and in the song he tells the story of a man going to the wedding of a former girlfriend who he still loves.  So for the man in the story, the ringing of the bells produces sadness.

 

Now, whenever I hear church bells ringing, I think of Robert’s song, and I wonder what memories these church bells are producing in the minds of people who are hearing them.

 

Here are a few lines from the lyrics of Robert’s song, “Ringing of the Bells”:

 

I hear the ringing of the bells

And the story they tell

About a girl who fell out of love then got married

I acted like I didn’t care

She just left me standing there

. . . .

Sometimes they ring in sadness

Sometimes they ring in hope

Tonight they ring in both

And I cried till there were no tears left inside

. . . .

I hear the ringing of the bells

And all the stories they tell

About the people who fell

And got carried 

 

Here is the video clip for you to enjoy of Robert singing “Ringing of the Bells” on Alive with Clive: 

 

 

To see a video clip of Robert singing one of his other songs, “Run,” a song written to sound like a song Tom Petty would write, on Alive with Clive on The Alive with Clive TV Channel on YouTube, click here. 

 

For additional information about Robert and to listen to more of his songs, go to www.myspace.com/randallsongs. 

 

Robert is currently in 13^th place in The Alive with Clive Top 20.  To vote for Robert to move into the top spot in The Alive with Clive Top 20, click here.

 

To see who else is in The Alive with Clive Top 20, click here. 

 

Best regards.

Clive

 

(914) 274-8280

 

www.alivewithclive.tv — raising at least a billion dollars for people affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa!