Ring out, wild bells

Percy Fletcher (1879-1932) wrote a carol in 1914 based on “In Memoriam” by Tennyson.

I have a fond memory of hearing this when I was a child and love the way the music echoes the meaning of the words - particularly the ringing of the bells.

This is my adaptation using the published music but adding the choir line as necessary - I use this as a final voluntary at the end of the year to ring out the old.

If you like it - look on YouTube to see a performance (NOT me) at Manchester Bridgewater Hall with Choir, Organ, Timpani and TRUMPETS!!! (You will see what I mean)

The words are:

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the false - ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the old - ring in the new
Ring in the new.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old . . .
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness – ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ . . . that is to be.

Ring out the old - ring in the new,
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.