One of Carrie Underwood‘s favorite parts about country music is the storytelling. In fact she has said that those are mainly the songs she looks for, writes and wants to sing. Enter “Church Bells“, appropriately from Carrie’s 2015 “Storyteller” album. This number one single is about a girl named Jenny who’s abusive relationship was brought to an end with the death of her husband seemingly to the relief of everyone. No questions asked. On Songfacts.com, songwriters Zach Crowell, Brett James and Hillary Lindsey evolved the story from wedding bells to funeral tolls for poor Jenny and her relationship. Carrie looks for the clear beginning, middle and end to these “mini-movies” where the listener can actually see the entire film play out in their heads just by listening to the lyrics. The songwriters enjoyed coming up with the plot. How were they going to off the villain of this story. Carrie Underwood was definitely who they wanted for this song. It’s now a country music classic.

“She could hear those church bells ringing, ringing
And up in the loft, that whole choir singing, singing
Fold your hands and close your eyes
Yeah, it’s all gonna be alright
You just listen to the church bells ringing, ringing
Yeah, they’re ringing”

Welcome to Lunchtime Lyrics on The Coyote – Bold New Country! Every weekday at noon, we dig into the heart of country music, breaking down the origins and lyrics behind the tunes that define the genre. From heartfelt ballads to toe-tapping anthems, we’ve got the stories you didn’t know you needed. Grab your lunch and settle in, it’s time to uncover the secrets behind your favorite tracks.