The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71295 Message #2126939
Posted By: Malcolm Speake
16-Aug-07 - 08:54 AM
Thread Name: Quote/song title re rings
Subject: Lyr Add: NORTON NEW BELL WAKE
Just in case some one does want it, the words of 'Norton New Bell Wake' are as follows:
Norton New Bell Wake
When Norton raised at last my friends a new bell in the steeple
The ringers tried to make amends by raising up the people
One morn you know before cockcrow they suddenly got ringing
And for to make a new bell wake set all the bells a-swinging
Chorus
They banged each bell and rang so well so true their parts did take
From morn till night there was load delight at Norton new bell wake
Such ringing ne'er was known before they fairly shook the spire
They kicked up one continuous roar twas slam round change and fire
The guns did shoot and folks did hoot on hearing such a clatter
They ran about to see the rout and learn what was the matter
The beagle lead Sam Partridge made the second bell to ring
Then wrencher Jim the third pulled in the fourth did Collins ring
Dibbs pulled fifth and Atkins then chimed in the sixth so merry
Tom Mason seventh and the tenner bell was rattled in by Gerry
They drank to at a furious rate and nearly spent their store
Two pence was all left on the plate and they could raise no more
The warden coming just in time behaved then fair and well
They gave a shout when he turned out two shillings for each bell
At length twas night and what a sight was then on Norton Green
And what a squall on Osborne's stall when they fired a magazine
The crackers flew and serpents too made all the neighbourhood quake
Folk thought the devil had seen but civil and come to the new bell wake
Final Chorus
Twas crack and fiz and smoke and wiz the cakes again did bake
The powder stunk and most were drunk to end the new bell wake