Lyr Req/Add:Those Wedding Bells Shall Not Ring Out

Subject: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 02:18 PM

I've been directed, so to speak, to this song. I'm told that it involves, among other things, the bride being stabbed in the church. I need lyrics AND tune. Can anyone help?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Jacob B
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 02:20 PM

Let me guess: some "friend" of the bride's wants you to sing this as part of the ceremony, right?

Subject: Lyr Add: THOSE WEDDING BELLS SHALL NOT RING OUT!^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 02:45 PM

I dunno about the tune, Dave, but here are the lyrics.
-Joe Offer-

---

    Lyrics from Vaudeville

---

THOSE WEDDING BELLS SHALL NOT RING OUT!
(words and music by Monroe H. Rosenfeld)

A sexton stood one Sabbath eve within a belfry grand,
Awaiting signal from the church with bellrope in his hand;
As in the house of worship stood a young and happy pair
To pledge their troth forevermore, each other's love to share.
The holy man then spake these words: "Before you're joined for life,
Has any person aught to say 'gainst you, as man and wife?"
Then, down the aisle there came a man with quick and eager tread,
And, pointing to the trembling bride, these words he calmly said:

"Those wedding bells must not ring out,
She is another's bride.
I saw her at the altar-rail,
We stood there side by side;
She cannot claim another's hand
She dare not break the law's command
A guilty wife you see her stand!
Those bells shall not ring out."

The minister was speechless and the bridegroom stood amazed,
The congregation spellbound sat and thought the man was crazed,
The bride has not a word to say, but simply hung her head.
"Who is this man" the preacher asked, "I know him not," she said.
Then ring the bells," the bridegroom cried -- the man knelt to entreat
The sexton swung the chimes aloft, the bells rang clear and sweet;
But scarce their music had begun when forth there came a shout:
"Stand back! I say, they shall not ring, those bells shall not ring out!"

"Those wedding bells shall not ring out,
I swear it on my life!
For we were wedded years ago
And she is still my wife!
She shall not break her vows to me
She's mine through all eternity
She's mine till death shall set her free
Those bells shall not ring out!"

A shriek of woe -- a glit'ring blade -- a lurch -- a flash -- a dart --
And, like the lightning's stroke, the blade had reach'd her trembling heart.
"You've killed his bride -- oh God," they cried!  He swung the gleaming knife,
And pierc'd his own heart as he gasp'd, 'Nay, not his bride -- my wife."
Two forms lay cold within the aisle, the husband and the bride,
As once in life he claim'd they stood in wedlock, side by side;
His vow was kept, the bells had ceased, and with his dying breath,
These words once more he murmur'd 'ere his lips were closed in death:

"Those wedding bells shall not ring out,
I swear it on my life!
For we were wedded years ago
And she is still my wife!
She shall not break her vows to me
She's mine through all eternity
She's mine till death shall set her free
Those bells shall not ring out!"

©1896, by Chas. W. Held ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 02:52 PM

There are two sets of sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. Here is one: THOSE WEDDING BELLS SHALL NOT RING OUT

Words and music by Monroe H. Rosenfeld, 1896.

Malcolm

Subject: Those Wedding Bells Shall Not Ring Ou
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 02:58 PM

I was just about ready to say that. Click here for the other.
Is there a volunteer who would like to transcribe the tune for us? Noteworthy Composer (with lyrics of the first verse) is the preferred format.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 03:10 PM

Well, you beat me to the Vaudeville link!  I can do a midi (though not using Noteworthy) in a day or two if nobody else does.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 03:28 PM

Neat Dave. You have 24 hours to get it down pat. Joan Morris has it on her Vaudeville album or After the Ball. I'm not sure which.
Get the GASPS right:
"A lurch; a flash (GAASSSSPPPP); a dart..." Maybe I'll come in costume tomorrow night. Where DID I leave my bustle....?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 04:35 PM

Sorry, Sinsull, my program for tomorrow night is set. I think I'll work this up, all right, though. The music I have printed out is very small, and I'm going to have to take it to Kinko's to enlarge and contrast-ize (good word) it, and then see what I can do.

Thanx for the reference, though.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:27 PM

Well I still intend to wear the Victorian gown cum bustle. I really enjoy the concert format and am looking forward to this one. Have fun.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 11:56 AM

I will be singing, among other things, She's Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage, which is late Victorian, having been published in 1900, so your gown will be justified.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 01:04 PM

And I will sing along. Love it. Thanks, Dave. Although I believe I will wear jeans or pajamas after all. Harpgirl has reset the tone with an armadillo outfit. Serve her right if she accidentally stands in front of Cletus. He may mistake her for a possum.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 10:52 PM

G'day,
Thanks to Malcolm three tunes for "These Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out" can be found at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: THOSE WEDDING BELLS MUST NOT RING OUT
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 12:57 PM

The sexton stood one Sabbath eve within the belfry grand,
Awaiting signal from the church with bellrope in his hand.
Within the hall of worship stood a young and happy pair,
To pledge their troth forever more, each other's love to share.

The holy man then spoke these words: "Before you're joined for life,
Has any person ought to say 'gainst you as man and wife?"
Then down the aisle there came a man with quick and eager tread,
And pointing to the trembling bride, these words he calmly said:

"Those wedding bells must not ring out. She is another's bride.
I saw her at the altar rail. We stood there side by side.
She cannot take another's hand. She dare not break the law's command.
A guilty wife you see her stand. Those bells must not ring out."

The minister was speechless and the bridegroom stood amazed.
The congregation spellbound sat and thought the man was crazed.
The bride had not a word to say but simply hung her head.
"Who is this man?" the preacher asked. "I know him not," she said.

"Then ring the bells," the bridegroom cried. The man knelt to entreat.
The sexton swung the chimes aloft. The bells rang clear and sweet.
But scarce their music had begun before there came a shout:
"Stand back, I say! They shall not ring! Those bells shall not ring out."

"Those wedding bells shall not ring out; I swear it by my life.
For we were wedded years ago and she is still my wife.
She cannot break her vow to me; she's mine through all eternity.
Mine 'til death can set her free. Those bells must not ring out."

A shriek of woe, a glittering blade, a lurch, a flash, a dart...
And like the lightning's stroke, the blade had reached her trembling heart.
"You've killed his bride! Oh, God!" they cried. He swung the gleaming knife
And pierced his own heart as he gasped, "Nay, not his bride, my wife."

Two forms lay cold within the aisle, the husband and the bride,
As once in life he claimed they stood in wedlock side by side.
His vow was kept. The bells had ceased. And with his dying breath
These words he once more murmured ere his lips were closed in death:

"Those wedding bells must not ring out; I swear it by my life.
For we were wedded years ago and she is still my wife.
She cannot break her vow to me; she's mine though all eternity,
Mine 'til death can set her free. Those bells must not ring out."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Thoise Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 01:23 PM

For more on this song, plus links to sheet music, see this earlier thread: (above)

At one time there were midis of the tune at the old Mudcat Midi site, but they seem to have been lost in the upgrade. I probably still have copies somewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Thoise Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 09:59 AM

I searched the DT before posing the lyrics. DOH! Didn't search the Forum. Thanks, Malcolm.

I sang this last week at the Press Room and decided to share.
M.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Thoise Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Ou
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 01:17 PM

Glad you did, Sins -- it's one I should add to my repertoire. I was going to ask you, then I got sidetracked.

I also need to learn "Don't Put Your Daughter On the Stage, Mrs. Worthington."

And the intro to "The Body In the Bag" (since I learned it sans intro).

Linn

Subject: Lyr Add: Those Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 11:09 AM

I sing this one for weddings sort of like "break a leg" to a performer. I learned it from Joan Morris' album "After The Ball.

       Those Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out

The sexton stood one Sabbath Eve within the bellfry grand
Awaiting signal from the church with bellrope in his hand.
Within the hall of worship stood a young and happy pair
To pledge their troth forever more each other's love to share.
The holy man then spake these words "Before you're joined for life
Has any person ought to say 'gainst you as man and wife?"
Then down the aisle there came a man with quick and eager tred
And pointing to the trembling bride these words he calmly said.
"Those wedding bells must not ring out she is another's bride.
I saw her at the alter rail. We stood there side by side.
She cannot take another's hand. She dare not break the law's command.
A guilty wife you see her stand. Those bells must not ring out!"

The minister was speechless and the bridegroom stood amazed.
The congregation spellbound sat and thought the man was crazed.
The bride had not a word to say but simply hung her head.
"Who is this man?" the preacher asked. "I know him not" she said.
"Then ring the bells" the bridegroom cried. The man knelt to entreat.
The sexton swung the chimes aloft. The bells rang clear and sweet.
But scarce there music had begun when forth there came a shout.
"Stand back, I say.They shall not ring.Those bells must not ring out.
Those wedding bells must not ring out. I swear it by my life.
For we were wedded years ago and she is still my wife.
She cannot break her vows to me. She is mine through all eternity.
Mine 'til death can set her free. Those bells must not ring out!"

A shriek of woe. A glittering blade
A lurch! A flash! A dart!
And like the lightening's stroke the blade
Had reached her trembling heart.
"You've killed his bride. Oh God" they cried.
He swung the gleaming knife
And pierced his own heart as he gasped
"Nay, not his bride, my wife."

Two forms lay cold within the aisle - the husband and the bride.
As once in life he claimed they stood in wedlock side by side.
His vow was kept. The bells had ceased. And with his dying breath
These words he once more murmured as his lips were closed in death.
"Those wedding bells must not ring out. I swear it by my life.
For we were wedded years ago and she is still my wife.
She cannot break her vows to me. She is mine through all eternity.
Mine 'til death can set her free. Those bells must not ring out!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Those Wedding Bells Must Not Ring Out
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 02:54 PM

I can testify to that - SINSULL sang it at our reception.

She's wonderfully dramatic about it - available for weddings, barmitzvas.........