"I Can Hear The Bells" is the fourth song in Act I of Hairspray.
Hairspray (musical)[]
"I Can Hear the Bells" occurs at the WYZT studios when Tracy arrives to audition for The Corny Collins Show. It is performed by Tracy Turnblad and the female Council Members.
The song is performed after "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" and before "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs."
Hairspray Live![]
As a live, televised, production of the musical, Hairspray Live! follows the musical very closely. Unlike in the Broadway and West End versions, however, Hairspray Live! inserts "Ladies' Choice" after "I Can Hear the Bells."
Hairspray (2007)[]
Unlike in the musical, Hairspray (2007) places "I Can Hear the Bells" at Patterson Park High School. It's performed by Tracy Turnblad at school after she bumps into Link Larkin.
Another change from the source material is the song's placement. The film placed "I Can Heat the Bells" after "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs."
For this version of the song, Nikki Blonsky provided all of the vocals, including those of her "backup singers."
Lyrics:[]
(TRACY)
I can hear the bells.
Don't you hear 'em chime?
Can't you feel my heart beat
Keeping perfect time?
And all because he
Touched me
He looked at me and stared, yes he
Bumped me
My heart was unprepared when he
Tapped me
And knocked me off my feet
One little touch
Now my life's complete 'cause he
Nudged me
Love put me in a fix, yes it
Hit me
Just like a ton of bricks, yes my
Heart burst
Now, I know what life's about
One little touch
and love's knocked me out, and
I can hear the bells
My head is spinning
I can hear the bells
Something's beginning
Everybody says
That a girl who looks like me
Can't win his love
Well, just wait and see, 'cause
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
Just hear them chiming
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
My temperature's climbing
I can't contain my joy
'Cause I fin'ly found the boy
I've been missin'
Listen! I can hear the bells
(ENSEMBLE)
Ah, ah, ah, ah
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Round One
(TRACY)
He'll ask me on a date
And then
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Round Two
(TRACY)
I'll primp, but won't be late because
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Round Three
(TRACY)
Is when we kiss inside his car!
Won't go on the way
But I'll go pretty far, then
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Round Four
(TRACY)
He'll ask me for my hand and then
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Round Five
(TRACY)
We'll book the wedding band, so by
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Round Six
(TRACY)
Amber, much to your surprise
This heavy-weight champion
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
Takes the prize and
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
My ears are ringing
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
The bridesmaids are singing
(ENSEMBLE)
Ah, ah, ah, ah
(TRACY)
Ev'rybody says
That a guy who's such a gem
Won't look my way
Well, the laugh's on them,'cause
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
My father will smile
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
As he walks me down the aisle
My mother starts to cry
But, I can't see 'cause
Link and I are French kissin'
Listen! I can hear the bells
(ENSEMBLE)
Ah, ah, ah, ah
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
My head is reeling
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells
(TRACY)
I can't stop peeling
Everybody warns
that he won't like what he'll see
But, I know that he'll look
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
inside me! Yeah!
I can hear the bells!
(TRACY)
Today's just the start 'cause
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
I can hear the bells!
(TRACY)
Until death do us part!
And even when we die,
We'll look down from up above
Remembering the night
(TRACY and ENSEMBLE)
That we two fell in love
(TRACY)
We both will shed a tear
And he'll whisper as we're reminiscin'
Listen! I can hear the bells!
(ENSEMBLE)
She can hear the bells
(TRACY)
I can hear the bells!
(ENSEMBLE)
She can hear the bells
(TRACY)
I can hear the bells!