Nov32020

Calexico – Hear The Bells Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
G
Am C G G
Am C G

[Verse 1]
                 G       
The last time we met was 
            Am        C
down at the tap room
G            G        
  Drinkin' Mezcal and 
               Am        C
  tears in our eyes7
D               D    
  You sang me a song 
             G        C
  sweet as a monsoon
D            D       
  Blowin' in    from 
      Em   Em   D  Dsus2
  the South

[Chorus 1]
G          G             Am    C
  Hear the bells ringin' out
G         G       
  Let 'em ring on 
             Am    C
  New Year's Day

[Verse 2]
G              G         
  I sat on the hill near 
      Am       C
  the mission
G              G        
  Where lovers meet and 
               Am      C
  when poppies bloom
D                D        
  I followed the ranchers 
           G             C
  rambling down Broadway
D         D                 
  Sellin' crops on the side 
         G       C
  of the road
D                  D      
  Their heart's in Sonora 
              Em   Em
  whenever it rains
        D         D
And wherever they roam

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[Chorus 2]
G           G                  Am    C
  Take this charm and dry your tears
G           G          
  Won't you wear it to 
            Am    C
  ease your mind?
G          G             Am    C
  Hear the bells ringin' out
G         G                  Am    C
  Let 'em ring on New Year's Day

[Solo]
D D G C D D
G C

[Bridge]
D                D         
  Hear the radio blarin' a 
         Em   Em
  sad corrido
F                F   
  "La tierra del sol 
              Em    Em
  suspiro por verte
F             Am              C
  Quisiera llorar, quisiera morrir"
            Em          Am     Am
Come this November's Procession
  C            Em       
Mezcal on a Sunday with 
             Am     Am
tears in our eyes
C                        Em        
  'Cause it's foolish to laugh and 
               Am     Am
  pointless to cry
C                Em     D#       C    
  About some old photos buried inside 
    D                     D      D F
  the cracked and crumblin' walls

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Chorus 3]
G           G                  Am    C
  Take this charm and dry your tears
G           G                    Am    C
  Won't you wear it to ease your mind?
G        G                     Am      C
  Take a breath to soothe your sorrows
G               G     
  Until they're gone, 
              Am          C
  gone as the years fade away
G          G             Am    C
  Hear the bells ringin' out
G         G                  Am    C
  Let 'em ring on New Year's Day

[Outro]
C C
G

How to play Hear The Bells: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Hear The Bells by Calexico on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Hear The Bells by Calexico keeps coming home to G major (one sharp: F♯). You need 8 chords: G, Am, C, D, Em, Dsus2, F and D#.

The progression the song keeps returning to is G – Am – C – G (I – ii – IV – I in G major). In solfa, that is doh – reh – fah – doh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: F and D# are the tricky part on guitar (barre or movable shapes). Slow the change down until it is clean; on piano and ukulele they are simpler.