Ring the bell, watchman! (Henry Clay Work)

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• (Posted 2023-12-19)  CPDL #78355:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-12-19).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 426 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Ring the bell, watchman!
Composer: Henry Clay Work
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1867 Root & Cady
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

High in the belfry the old sexton stands,
Grasping the rope with his thon bony hands:
Fixed is his gaze, as by some magic spell,
Till he hears the distant murmur, Ring, ring the bell.

“Ring the bell, watchman! ring! ring! ring!
Yes, yes, the good news is now on the wing;
Yes, yes! they come, and with tidings 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.

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.

Bonfires are blazing and rockets ascend—
No meager triumph such tokens portend;
Shout, shout! my brothers, for “all, all is well!”
’Tis the universal chorus, Ring, ring the bell.