American Old Time Song Lyrics: 45 The Old Belfry Bell

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 45

THE OLD BELFRY BELL.
Copyright, 1894, by Spaulding & Gray.
Words and Music by Barney Fagan.

In a quiet little hamlet, just beyond the city's glare,
On a road that wends its way among the hills,
When child, I well remember, stood a lonely, wooden structure,
And the time-worn, withered frame Is standing still.
Tim' the village seems deserted, just a few that pass the door,
What a history of by-gones they could tell,
When a happy congregation knelt within the sacred walls
Of the chapel, with its old belfry bell.

Chorus.
Ding, dong, it tolled out, ding it tolled out,
Pealing while its echoes grandly swell,
Over mountain, 'cross the neither,
Sunday morning, good folks gather,
Summoned thither by the old belfry bell.

From its throne 'twixt earth and heaven, ev'ry new-born Christmas morn,
Sent its greeting e'er the sun had kissed the dew:
When the dying year was fated, oft' I've listened to its tolling,
Gently ringing out the old and in the new.
When the fire-fiend threatened danger, in the stillness of the night,
Loud its warning notes re-echoed thro' the dell;
And the playful little children knew the hour for school was near,
By the clanging of the old belfry bell. - Chorus.

There's a gloom o'erhangs the village, there's a tear in ev'ry eye,
Saddened hearts are many on that fateful day.
For the kind and loving parson, noble, true, and tender-hearted,
At the virgin hour of morning passed away.
His a life of pure devotion, to the wayward, erring soul,
Now, his duties o'er, he's la'en his last farewell.
Open wide the golden portals, let his spirit enter in,
To the tolling of the old belfry bell.-Chorus.