[VERSE 1 solo voice, dry and intimate, Northern Irish accent very clear, no harmonies] Snow lies quiet on the sleeping town Footprints fading, all the shops are shutting down From the hill the old church lantern glows And the bells keep telling what the whole world knows [CHORUS gentle three-part harmony made from her own voice, soft “ooh” pad under lead] Still the bells are ringing in the cold night air Calling every wandering heart from everywhere You can keep your distance, you can hide your fear Still the bells are ringing, saying “Christmas is here” [VERSE 2 return to mostly solo voice, a single low harmony on last line] Windows shining with a golden flame Faces in the glass I almost know by name Every road I’ve taken through the year gone by Leads me back to this one starry sky [CHORUS repeat melody, slightly fuller harmony stack, a little more emotion] Still the bells are ringing in the cold night air Calling every wandering heart from everywhere You can keep your distance, you can hide your fear Still the bells are ringing, saying “Christmas is here” [BRIDGE very soft, almost whispered, single line harmony shadow on a few words] If you’re standing in the silence thinking no one sees Let the echo of those chimes bend your broken knees [FINAL CHORUS biggest vocal moment, rich but still only her voice, clear Northern Irish lilt] Still the bells are ringing in the cold night air Calling every lonely heart from everywhere You can bring your sorrow, you can bring your tears Still the bells are ringing, saying “Love is here” Still the bells are ringing, saying “Love is here” [OUTRO sustain last word, reverb tail, then one soft hummed repeat of the main melody, solo voice fading to silence]
