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Boomer Anthems: The Byrds’ Bells of Rhymney

Not so much for the song and the lyrics, but for the Byrds’ harmonies and that bridge… ah, that bridge.

In the winter of 1966 I arrive in New York I am wearing my father’s overcoat, purple pointed-toe Beatle boots, and long hair. There was a lot of music now. An American group called the Byrds released their first album, Mr. Tambourine Man. They took a lot of Bob Dylan songs and made them electric, with harmonies. I must have listened to that record two hundred times. I would listen to the last track, The Bells of Rhymney where Jim McGuinn, the lead guitar player, played the instrumental break, picking high notes over the backing of the band, suddenly jumping one octave so that the notes seemed to suddenly release, spiraling off like birds.Ethan Russell in “An American Story”

Oh, what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney
Is there hope for the future say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner say the black bells of Rhondda
And who killed the miner say the grim bells of Blaina

Throw the vandals in court say the bells of Newport
All will be well if, if, if, if, if say the green bells of Cardiff
Why so worried sisters, why sang the silver bells of Wye
And what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney

Oh, what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney
Is there hope for the future say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner say the black bells of Rhondda
And who killed the miner say the grim bells of Blaina

(Ah, ah, ah)
(Ah)
(Ah, ah, ah)
(Ah)

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • BWayne March 12, 2020, 2:22 PM

    Now do Hendrix, the greatest EVER

  • Jack March 12, 2020, 3:23 PM

    Jim McQuinn was some kind of DJ and I don’t think he played guitar for The Byrds. James Roger McGuinn did.

  • Skorpion March 12, 2020, 5:34 PM

    Some of my ancestors were Welsh miners, so this song has special significance for me. And The Byrds’ version is fantastic.

  • Steve S March 13, 2020, 10:01 PM

    First “major” concert I ever attended was 1965, the Byrds in Venice Beach, L.A. at a place called the Cheetah. Opening for them was The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band and The Chambers Bros. Rocked my 15 year old world. Without a doubt one of the most influential bands ever.