Album: Back In Black (1980)

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• I'm rolling thunder, pouring rain
  I'm coming on like a hurricane
  My lightning's flashing across the sky
  You're only young but you're gonna die
  
  I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
  Nobody's putting up a fight
  I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
  I'm gonna get ya, Satan get ya
  
  Yeah, hell's bells
  Yeah, hell's bells
  You got me ringing
  Hell's bells
  My temperature's high
  Hell's bells
  
  I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine
  If you're into evil, you're a friend of mine
  See the white light flashing as I split the night
  'Cause if good's on the left, then I'm sticking to the right
  
  I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
  Nobody's putting up a fight
  I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
  I'm gonna get ya, Satan get ya
  
  Hell's bells
  Oh, hell's bells
  You got me ringing
  Hell's bells
  My temperature's high
  Hell's bells
  Ow
  
  Hells bells, Satan's coming to you
  Hells bells, he's ringing them now
  Those hells bells, the temperature's high
  Hells bells, across the sky
  Hells bells, they're taking you down
  Hells bells, they're dragging you under
  Hells bells, gonna split the night
  Hells bells, there's no way to fight, yeah
  
  Ow, ow, ow, ow
  Hells bells Writer/s: Angus McKinnon Young, Brian Johnson, Malcolm Mitchell Young
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 73

• Why Do You Wanna Know My Name from Why Do You Wanna Know Where I LiveThis song just screams classic rock/heavy metal. Good lord, why can’t heavy metal be like this in this day and age?
• Skubaduck from Usait always sounded to me like the church folks screaming "satan" at the "kids today" like older generations always have always done. So maybe they shrugged and said SURE you want evil i'll give you hell. ha. I sure sang it like that when it was released, went to high school in SE US bible belt and this hit the spot at the time. *rings all the bells!*
• Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganI think Bon Scott wrote this THROUGH Brian Johnson. Bon was the storm that influenced Brian to come up with the lyrics. That's just my theory, and I'm stickin' to it, bruh.
• Trish J from North CarolinaMy take away when I first heard Hell’s Bells was about death by alcohol. Satan is the alcohol and the Bells are the pints, fifth’s, half gallons etc.
• Jude Cree from DaytonaHells Bells inspired by Bon Scott's unfortunate death and subsequent life the song lyrical content was mostly triggered by the impending hurricane Allen at the time which was the first recorded Category 5 ever hit landfall 190 mile an hour sustained winds..was the very first vinyl I ever bought as a pre-teen from Caldor Coram, NY.. I think I paid $6.99
• Dunc from AusI'm a rolling thunder, a pouring rain "Rolling Thunder is the US sustained bombing operation in the Vietnam War" " pouring rain is the amount of bombs"
  I'm comin' on like a hurricane
  My lightning's flashing across the sky "is the explosions"
  You're only young but you're gonna die "young soldiers of war on both sides living in HELL"
  
  I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives "Carpet bombing doesn't discriminate"
  Nobody's putting up a fight
  I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell "bell is the shape of the bomb"
  I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
• Satan's Little Helper from UsaHell I always thought the bell was big ben.
• Zane from TexasI used to like this song a lot but got leery of it later on. However, I do not believe for one second that AC/DC are devil worshipers. I've watched their interviews and they get totally upset when people get hurt etc. And they just seem like down to earth nice guys to me.
  Highway to hell is really a road in Australia some of the other songs are about the things they had to put up with as they rose to the top in the music business. It may be similar to reading Edgar Allen Poe sometimes. But if Brian Johnson says he didn't believe in Heaven or hell, How can he be worshiping the devil? Yeah! So hopefully that's straightened out. Remember we're supposed to love our neighbor and NOT Judge! It isn't for any person to say whether or not someone goes to hell because we do not know the innermost thoughts of anyone, how they feel, or even if they pray or not
• Jimmy from Belfast, United KingdomTim of Hicksville for goodness sakes Grow Up. You used to like the song now you don't in case there's a satanic message that you hadn't worked out for yourself. Rock music has always been linked to that genre as part of the marketing product and not because anyone is really into devil worship. Angus' tail and horns are nothing more than children do when trick or treating.
• Zero from Nowhere, NjThis reminds me of my friend who threw out his Zeppelin albums because of that rediculous "Santanic backwards messaging" theory in Stairway to Heaven. He's so gullible. I think in this song when he says, "If you're into evil, you're a friend of mine," he's singing from the perspective of Satan, not from the perspective of Brian Johnson. Look at the other lyrics, "I'm a rolling thunder, pouring rain/I'm coming on like a hurricane./My lightining's flashing across the sky/you're only young, but you're gonna die./I' won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives/nobody's putting up a fight./I've got my bell, I'm gonna take you to Hell./I'm gonna get you, Satan will get you!" "Satan will get you" is Satan talking from the third person. Basically saying death waits for no one. It could be reflecting on Bon's passing, or it could be written to piss off the religeous types. If it IS worshipping Satan, that's not going to stop me from listeing to it because I know I love my God the Father, and I'm too smart to get brainwashed. Anyway, do whatever you want to do, just be smart.
• Jorge from Bronx, NyAnyone have noticed,or in this case hear 13 tolling bells in the beginning of song? Isn't 13 a number the Freemasons use?
• Megan from Stevenson, AlHA!! They play this before our football games! It's sooo cool to watch everybody in the stadium dance to this!!
• Tim from Hicksville, NyAlthough I can see from the previous comments that the 1st lyrics of the song are inspired by a tropical storm and maybe Bob Scott's death, the 2nd set of lyrics seem to be a glorification of evil. I know that after the album cover depicting one of the band members with satanic horns and tail that critics attacked the band as satanic, but I have yet to hear any of the band say they wrote the lyrics to Hells Bells as a dig at their detractors. So my guess is that at least the second set of lyrics shows an affinity for satan and evil. While that's the case, even though I used to like the song, it will not be a part of my music list, and hasn't been for a long time just for that reason.
• Eric from Camas, WaBon Scott is still in hell, and it ain't such a good place to be. Poor guy. Get saved, because you don't know how long you've got.
• Leo from Westminster 1, MdHell's Bells is my favorite and the ultimate AC/DC song because Brian is clearly enraged and angry at Bon for taking his own life by Demon Alcohol in the back seat of a car. On the other hand, this brilliant Fair Dinkum Aussie blues is brilliant courtesy of a brilliant Gibson break by Angus Young. Hell's Bells then is triumphant because it shows that Australia has that perfect rock & roll bad attitude. If you want to know why rock & roll will forever be alive, look down under.
• Jim from Toronto, OnHell's bells is actually about Australian rules football (AFL). In Australia when a player scores it is sometimes called a "bell" - Melbourne FC is also known as the "demons" and their logo is a devil. This the hells bells, AC DC were football fans.
• Andrew from Kilcoy, AustraliaThe Hell's Bell was cast at the worlds largest Bell Foundary in Loughborough England where some of the worlds most famous bells were cast
• William from Carlsbad, NmIf you can find the VH1 episode where they do where are they now, AC/DC is featured in it and Brian Johnson is too cool. When He wrote Hells Bells, he said they were in the Bahamas writing songs for the Back in Black album and he wrote this while a hurrican warning was being issued for the Bahamas. It was storming and all hence the opening line I'm rolling thunder and pouring rain, I'm coming on like a hurricane... really a cool interview.
• Jesse from San Antoino, TxNot much of a AC/DC fan but this song kicks ass
• Tyler from Ashland, KyI started listening to ACDC when I was in about the 5th grade. My parents used to be kinda strict on me, and told me not to listen to this song. I had only heard the very first part, with the bells, and that's it. Finially, I decided to listen to it. I imediately fell in love with it. It's my all-time favorite ACDC song. I'm now a freshman, and they aren't as strict on me, thank God. Because I love this song.
• Lester from New York City, NyBeen a Hard Rock fan from the beginning, and a lead guitar enthusist, but this is the song that turned me on to AC/DC. I had a rock & roll prejudice. I preferred that lead guitarist wear long pants. But I hung out in a bar in the early 90's that had Hell's Bells in the jukebox, and the bar's owner (whom I disliked) told me how much he hated the song because of the bells ringing in the intro. Naturally, I'd immediately play Hell's Bells the moment I walked into the bar, and a few more times during the evening. I grew to love the song, started listening to AC/DC, and never turned back. GREAT guitar group.
• Austin from Bristow, VaA pretty spooky song. Great tribute to Bon Scott.
• Nady from Adelaide, AustraliaBuddy: Compared to how many successful American bands there are to successful Australian bands, I think it would be pretty fair if us Aussies boasted a bit about one of our bands being one of the best in the world. Nobody is saying Australia is better than America, or vice versa,so chill out mate, it's just music, not the United Nations.
• Austin from Bristow, VaThis song is so bad ass. Great for those who have a knack for rage.
• James from Ardmore, OkI seen a TV show about AC/DC on recording Back in Black. Where Angus and Malcom told Brian if he wanted to stay with the band after doing The Back in Black Album and Tour he had to write a song. They had the music but no words. There was a tropical storm that is referred to as him taking over the vocals of AC/DC and becoming a rock legend. Over confident? I think not. AC/DC will live on forever, cause of 2 albums Highway to Hell and Back in Black. Old to New!
• Joel from Columbia, MdHell's Bells was actually my first curse word.
  This was on a CD called Who Made Who and was featured in the Emilio Estevez (Sheen) movie called Maximum Overdrive.
• Buddy from Sb, NjAC/DC=ultimate god-ness. I'm sick of people from the U.S. and Australia arguing who's better than who on AC/DC songs. Australians; don't immediately say you're better than us because I'll rip you a new one. Americans; don't say you're better than Australians because if you do you're too stupid to call yourself an "American." Just enjoy the music. AC/DC from Australia and they are ultimate gods at rock. Same thing with Guns N' Roses and Black Sabbath. Their good musicians and from Britain. There are great rockers everywhere so don't say that America or Australia is better than all. But, unfortunately, mostly America. My country is very ignorant.
• Sarah from La, CaLove this song!!!! It is played on my favorite show Supernatural!!!
• Jesse from Melbourne, Australiaguess what, acca dacca is aussie so screw you
  
  screw you im an anteater
• Natascha from Johanesburg, South AfricaLove this song the intro is just so COOOOOOL the bells just make it so realistic!!
• Brad from Morton, IlWe love this song, The Morton Thunder baseball team plays this song when Jonathan Marks comes in at the end of the game to shut the door and get the save!
• B-man from Detroit, MiTHE best concert opening I have ever seen, bar none.
• Michael from San Diego, CaWe absolutely love hearing this song while watching baseball games ast Petco Park in San Diego, because it signals the beginning of "Trevor Time" in which future Hall of Fame pitcher Trevor Hoffman comes in to protect the lead and close out the game for the Padres!
• Mike from Kinston, NcBon Scott wrote most all the lyrics for the Back in Black album but never got the credit.
• Andrew from Bartlett, TnI love this song and all the songs of Back In Black and I love AC/DC!!
• Selina from Perth, AustraliaThe bell at the start of Back in Black was the best sound they could've used for their respectful tribute. Then it gets into that main riff where you can just tell the thunder from the hurricane is coming for you...right at you, in ya face...
  Funny, they wanted this bell right, so they went to the guy's that made the church bells, they were a bit skeptical because they wanted the word 'Hell' on a Church bell haha.
  And can we all get over this Satanist business...and Max, well said...
  Anyways, great song!
• Dylan from Branson, MoI have the back in black 45
• Anthony from Paramus, NjFact - The bell in the song was one that was produced and recorded in a bell factory. And it was actually rung by the worker how help construct the bell. They attempted to record bells from various churches thru out England, put one of the biggest problems that came about was the background noises from the birds in the bell tower and other background noise. In fact there is even a picture of the worker ringing the bell in the factory. (All of this info I provided was per ACDC documentary regarding the Back in Black Album on VH1) P.S... it was Mutt Lange he mentioned something about the storm to Brian Johnson in a manner that made him use those opening lines.
• Michael from Goshen, InThe Idea for the Bell came from Malcom Young. He talks about this in the DVD "Making of Back in Black." Says Malcom "I was back there in the toliet taking a Piss and i thought 'hang on, why don't we get a big F#$%ing bell.'"
• Raymond from Winnipeg, CanadaJust wanted to add something to Max's comment about the hurricane: I remember Angus doing an interview where he also spoke of the winds being so strong it was making the bells ring at a church on the island and the band could hear the ringing through the violent storm... hence the name "Hells Bells". Awesome song by an awesome group!! Rayzor
• Joel from Columbia, ScAc/DC is a lot of things but as far as I know they are not devil worshipers. A lot of bands write those kind of lyrics for shock value (just look at Alice Cooper). Not one of my fave songs but then I don't really listen to Ac/Dc all that much anymore.
• Liz from Richland Center, WiI love this song! It's soo cool. It sounds like a song from hell, but Max says what is true
• Max from Brooklyn, NyAndrew, Dublin, Ireland - dont get worked up. This song was written about a hurricane that hit an island where the band was staying. It was very unexpected, so they wrote a song about it. In fact, none of AC/DC's songs have anything to do with Hell. Highway to Hell is about their first American tour, Hell Aint A Bad Place to Be is about an ugly groupie, etc. Like many heavy metal bands, AC/DC referred to hell just to watch people dedicate their lives to calling them satanists. The best part is, it worked.
• Mel from Lubbock, TxWhen I become a pro "wrassler" I am going to come out to this song.
• Zack from Glendale, Azhells bells is an amizing song both in concerts and just listening to anytime, i have learned to play this song on my guitar and have perfected it
• Travis from Waterloo, NyPerfect intro to Back in Black IMO. I could totally see this song blaring from helicopter speakers in Nam.
• Dylan from Perth, AustraliaBon was the far better entertainer, but Brian is a better Heavy Metal singer, Bons buried in Freo,35 minutes from my home!
• Ac/dc_misfit from Millmerran, AustraliaThe ominous ringing of the church bells to the slow dragging riff at the start the song winds out to be a full on blast. A shout it out loud party anthem."Hells Bells" is not as good as "Highway to Hell" but it still sounds much harder. With the combination of heavy riffing and screechy, powerhouse vocals "Hells Bells" turns out to be another classic for the AC/DC cannon.
• Chase from Sedona, Azhaha AC/DC found got there name from there sister finding it on a sewing machine (if you dont believe buy the BONFIRE SET), And there is no bisexual terms too it According to Wikipedia (free website encylopedia)
  And my opnion is that Hells bells is the song dedicated to bon for his death, and back in black is the song for the new member brian.
• Evan from Porter, Inthe first lines rollin thunder, pourin rain, are from when the band was sitting around thinking up lyrics, with th weather as inspiration. I got this ACDC cd/dvd thing, and it has a interview about the major songs on it.
• Billy from Boston, MaGood song. I bet Hells Bells partially inspired Metallica to write For Whom The Bell tolls, another great song that starts with a ringing bell. The other half of Metallica's inspiration was Ernest Hemigway's novel For Whom The Belll Tolls.
• Galina from New London, CtPure evil, an insparation to the fiery imps of hell.....nice lyrics too.
• Ryan from Ray, Miare you sure it was from the vacuum cleaner? i heard it was a sewing machine
• Luke from Manchester, EnglandAngus and Malcom Young saw the name on their sister's vacuum cleaner when they were younger and named the band after that./.. Their sister also let them know it was another name for Bisexuality
• Andrew from New City, NyThe New York Football Giants play this right before opening kickoff at home games.
• Zain from Richmond, Canadathere are many references to bon scott. "your'e only young, but your'e gonna die", "hells bells, theyr'e callin for you."
  these could all be references to bon scott as back in black is a tribute album.
• Josh from Las Vegas, Nvin answer to Joey, it doesn't stand for that, Angus and Malcolm's sister saw it on the family vacuum cleaner and suggested it. They thought it was cool and stuck with it.
• Nathan from Ohsweken, Canadaby the way joey richmond ac/dc is battery currents
• Nathan from Ohsweken, Canadawho was that that said acdshe they probly listen to barney and friends. This is a relly good song with a good intro with lots of distortion just the way i like it.
• Joey from Richmond, Vanot bothered looking at the other songs by them, but is it factual that AC/DC means Anti-Christ/Devil's Children?
• Nn from Nbn, Greenlandthe bell rings 13 times
• Steven from Congers, NyActually, the line is "If GOOD's on the left, then I'm stickin' to the right!"
• Adriana from Monterrey, Mexicoits a good song defenetly AC/DC sound
• Shana from Pembroke, CanadaWicked song that intros a great record. Back in Black forever.
• Andrew from Dublin, IrelandThis song is obviously about hell and how they say it's a good place to be. It's an anti-Christ song. One of the lines in it is "If God's on the left, then I'm stickin' to the right!". Well, there you have it.
• Nick from San Francisco, Caoh, and Tom... AC/DC wasn't really known for their use of symbolism...
• Nick from San Francisco, CaHell's Belles? I prefer AC/DShe.
• Annabelle from Eugene, OrThe Bell in the beginning of this song reminds me of Big Ben, the big bell on which the hours are still struck on the clock at the tiptop of Saint Stephen's Clock Tower in London, England.
• Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandAnyone else noticed the symbolism of the bells in this song? As it's the first song of the album, and the bells open the song, it suggests that the band are in church, at Bon Scott's funeral. That's what I think anyway.
• Alex from Sacramento, Caactually, the bell in the beginning is the actual bell they use in their live shows
• Kim from New Orleans, LaThe churchbells heard in beginning of the song are actual church bells from an abbey in England.
• Joe from Oshawa, Canadathis group is amazing.this is just one of their great songs . AC DC IS THE BEST!!!!
• Pete from Nowra, AustraliaLet there be rock ,and rock n roll damnation another 2 great songs from Akka Dakka

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