More Songs by the Fighting Men
First Bell:
We rang for the coming of souls to earth,
We rang the joy of children's birth;
We rocked and carolled the young life in,
A holy carol to ward off sin.
Our notes flew over the grey old town
In a helter-skelter, by the wind blown
Higher and higher, and mingled at last
With the songs of souls whose purging is past;
And then together we and they
To the great Maker of Life would pray
That the life might be blessed that was born that day.
Second Bell:
Sadly we tolled the old life out
That was done with laughter and tears and doubt.
Silverly clear, when the moon sailed by
And the tides of life throbbed stormy and high.
We sang of faith and nerve and thew
To meet the devil and wrestle through.
Third Bell:
We rang of peace and we rang good-will
On the Christ-child's day, so ghostly-still;
When, dumbed with snow, the village street
No answer made to passing feet.
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