American Old Time Song Lyrics: 36 Old Church Bells
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 36
OLD CHURCH BELLS.
Copyright, 1892, by Francis, Day & Hunter.
Written and composed by Harry Dacre.
Bells are ringing in yonder tower, sweet church bells;
'Tis a wedding of wealth and power, peal all the bulls;
They are a "May and December" pair,
Standing before the altar there;
Bridegroom is old and the bride so fair, but what care the bells.
Refrain.
Old church-bells are sweetly chiming, merrily chiming, ring-dong-dong!
In their jingle these words mingle: there is another good man gone wrong!
There are belles of a diff'rent kind, female belles:
Some of them in the street we find, loud, brazen belles;
Johnnie will think her a sweet young miss;
She leads him on and he thinks it's bliss;
Then he goes ringing* a bell(e) like this, and clang go the bells.-Refrain.
There are belles with a load of cash, golden belles;
Old And stale, but they wish to mash, cracked, worn-out belles;
Some of the belles will advertise,
"Wanted a husband with sky-blue eyes,"
Up comes a wastrel who "cops" the prize, And clang go the belles. -Refrain.
Then we've the ladies who serve at bars, fine glass belles;
Belles who serve you with bad cigars, electric belles;
Taking the presents from gay young men.
Taking a drive with him now And again (gen),
Sometimes he marries her-oh, well then clang go the bells. -Refrain.
*Business putting ring on finger.