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1911
“GAY go up and gay go down | |
| To ring the Bells of London Town.” | |
| When London Town’s asleep in bed | |
| You’ll hear the Bells ring overhead. | |
| In excelsis gloria! | 5 |
| Ringing for Victoria, | |
| Ringing for their mighty mistress—ten years dead! | |
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THE BELLS:
Here is more gain than Gloriana guessed— | |
| That Gloriana guessed or Indies bring— | |
| Than golden Indies bring. A Queen confessed— | 10 |
| A Queen confessed that crowned her people King. | |
| Her people King, and crowned all Kings above, | |
| Above all Kings have crowned their Queen their love— | |
| Have crowned their love their Queen, their Queen their love! | |
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| Denying her, we do ourselves deny, | 15 |
| Disowning her are we ourselves disowned. | |
| Mirror was she of our fidelity, | |
| And handmaid of our destiny enthroned; | |
| The very marrow of Youth’s dream, and still | |
| Yoke-mate of wisest Age that worked her will! | 20 |
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| Our fathers had declared to us her praise— | |
| Her praise the years had proven past all speech, | |
| And past all speech our loyal hearts always, | |
| Always our hearts lay open, each to each— | |
| Therefore men gave their treasure and their blood | 25 |
| To this one woman—for she understood! | |
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| Four o’ the clock! Now all the world is still. | |
| Oh, London Bells, to all the world declare | |
| The Secret of the Empire—read who will! | |
| The Glory of the People—touch who dare! | 30 |
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THE BELLS:
Power that has reached itself all kingly powers, | |
| St. Margaret’s: By love o’erpowered— | |
| St. Martin’s: By love o’erpowered— | |
| St. Clement Danes: By love o’erpowered, | |
| The greater power confers! | 35 |
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THE BELLS:
For we were hers, as she, as she was ours, | |
| Bow Bells: And she was ours— | |
| St. Paul’s: And she was ours— | |
| Westminster: And she was ours, | |
| As we, even we, were hers! | 40 |
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THE BELLS:
As we were hers! | |
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