Digital Tradition Mirror

Ring the Bell, Watchman

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Ring the Bell, Watchman
(Henry Clay Work)

High in the belfry the old sexton stands,
Grasping the rope with his thin bony hands
Fix'd is his gaze as by some magic spell
Till he hears the distant murmur,
Ring, ring the bell

Chorus:
     "Ring the  bell, watchman! ring! ring! ring!
     "Yes, yes! the good news is now on the wing.
     "Yes, yes! they come and with tiding to tell.
     "Glorious and blessed tidings.  Ring, ring the bell!"

Baring his long silver locks to the breeze,
First for a moment he drops on his knees
Then with a vigor that few could excel
Answers he the welcome bidding,
Ring, ring the bell

Chorus

Hear!  from the hilltop, the first signal gun
Thunders the word that some great deed is done
Hear! thro' the valley the long echoes swell,
Ever and anon repeating
Ring, ring the bell

Chorus

Bonfires are blazing and rockets ascend
No meagre triumph such tokens portend
Shout! shout! my brothers for "all, all is well!"
'Tis the universal chorus
Ring, ring the bell

Chorus

Note: Here are the words to "Ring the Bell, Watchman."  _The Songs
     of Henry Clay Work_, compiled by Bertram G. Work, NY: J.J. Little
     & Ives (n.d.), pp. 115 -117. RWS
Note2: This, as far as I can tell, is the original from which all
     the Strike the Bell parodies sprung. RG

RWS

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!