Bell, Book and Candle written by Boo Hewerdine copyright © 1998 Chrysalis Music Ltd key : A major time-signature : 4/4 tempo : MM 74 track timing : 4:13 form : V R V R R' V R v' R' V R P the blue around the morning moon the colour of your eyes I remember holding you fall through summer skies you're everything that I've become every word I say I need a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost away   white horses on a troubled sea your smile will flash through time up ahead a blackbird's wing your hair will come to mind every night I see your face when I have to pray I need a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost away   keep your ghost away keep your ghost away I need a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost awayjust before the thunder roars I sense you next to me and as I move through nature I know where you will be so I must keep myself apart here is where I'll stay with a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost away

According to my trusty 1981 edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and fable, Bell, book and candle is the popular phrase signifying excommunication by the Roman Catholic Church. After pronouncing sentence the bell was tolled as for one dead; the bible, the book of life, was closed; and the candle, signifying the soul, was extinguished.
 
There seems to be some confusion in the song-writer's mind between this and exorcism, the casting out of evil spirits, but we mustn't let that spoil a haunting song (sorry, couldn't resist the pun there!).
 
- Adrian Dover