Three Bells

The Browns

About Three Bells

"The Three Bells", also known as "The Jimmy Brown Song", "Little Jimmy Brown", or simply "Jimmy Brown", is a song made popular by the Browns in 1959. The single reached number one in the U. S. on Billboard's Hot C&W Sides chart and the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The version by the Browns also hit number ten on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart. It was based on French-language song "Les trois cloches" written and composed by Swiss artist Jean Villard Gilles in 1939, who offered it to Édith Piaf in 1945. Piaf did the first recording of this song, with arrangements by Marc Herrand. This version, interpreted by Édith Piaf together with Les Compagnons de la chanson, was a major hit in 1946. The English lyrics were written by Bert Reisfeld and first recorded by the Melody Maids in 1948. The song documents three stages of the life of "Jimmy Brown"—his birth, his marriage, and his death. The Browns' male vocalist, Jim Ed Brown, coincidentally had the same name as the song's character. 


Year:
2016
2:52
#2

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There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Among the pine trees half forlorn
And there on a sunny morning
Little Jimmy Brown was born (Bung, bung, bung, bung)

All the chapel bells were ringing 
In the little valley town
And the song that they were singing 
Was for baby Jimmy Brown

Then the little congregation 
Prayed for guidance from above
"Lead us not into temptation,
Bless this hour of meditation,
Guide him with eternal love"

There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Beneath the mountains high above
And there, twenty years thereafter
Jimmy was to meet his love (Bung, bung, bung, bung)

All the chapel bells were ringing
'Twas a great day in his life
'Cause the songs that they were singing 
Was for Jimmy and his wife

Then the little congregation 
Prayed for guidance from above
"Lead us not into temptation,
Bless, oh Lord this celebration,
May their lives be filled with love"

From the village hidden deep in the valley
One rainy morning dark and gray
A soul winged its way to heaven
Jimmy Brown had passed away (Bung, bung, bung, bung)

Just a lonely bell was ringing 
In the little valley town
'Twas farewell that it was singing 
To our good ol' Jimmy Brown (little Jimmy Brown)

And the little congregation 
Prayed for guidance from above
"Lead us not into temptation, 
May his soul find the salvation,
Of thy great eternal love"

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The Browns

The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie Brown, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also combined elements of folk and pop. They disbanded in 1967. more »

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Written by: BERT REISFELD, JEAN VILLARD

Lyrics © SUISA, Peermusic Publishing, LES NOUVELLES EDITIONS MERIDIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Chart Success
"Three Bells" by The Browns was a chart-topping hit, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Country chart in 1959. It was the group's only song to top the pop chart.
Unique Narrative
The song tells the life story of Jimmy Brown through the tolling of church bells – at his birth, his wedding, and his death – a unique narrative concept for a pop song.
French Origin
"Three Bells" is an English-language adaptation of a French song, "Les Trois Cloches," written by Swiss artist Jean Villard Gilles.
Adoption by Famous Artists
After the success of The Browns' recording, "Three Bells" has been covered by numerous artists, including famous musicians like Johnny Cash, Andy Williams, and Ray Charles.
Grammy Hall of Fame
In 1999, "Three Bells" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a category specifically for recordings that are at least 25 years old and have "qualitative or historical significance."
Breaking Genre Boundaries
"Three Bells" was unique for its time as it appealed to both country and pop audiences, marking a crossover success for The Browns.
Female Vocalist Leader
Unlike many acts during the time, The Browns was fronted by a female vocalist, Maxine Brown. Her voice played a crucial role in defining the group's harmonious sound, including their performance in "Three Bells."
Long Duration Achievement
The Browns' original version of "Three Bells" spent ten weeks at number one on Billboard's country singles chart, one of the longest runs of any song in the history of the chart.
Achieving International Success
Not only did "Three Bells" reach number one in the US, but it also achieved international success, climbing to top ten in various music charts across the globe, including the UK Singles Chart.
Novelty Hit
Despite its success, "Three Bells" was perceived as a novelty hit because of its storytelling lyrics and unusual structure, setting it apart from the typical popular songs of the era.
Live Performances
Even after five decades, "Three Bells" continues to be a popular choice for performance in live concerts and TV performances by various artists.

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