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O, Tolling Bells!

O tolling bells, O tolling bells

Author: John M. Whyte
Tune: [O tolling bells! O tolling bells]
Published in 4 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Oh, tolling bells! oh, tolling bells!
Deep, deep within your tones there wells
A wail of pain, a soul’s lament,
“Life past, in sin and folly spent.”

Refrain:
Oh, tolling bells!
Oh, tolling bells!
Ye ring and ring of sad farewells,
But over there where Jesus dwells,
We’ll hear the chime of heaven’s bells,
“No more farewells,” oh, tolling bells.

2 When ringing out a soul’s farewell,
Oh, tolling bells! what do you tell?
Of griefs and woes? so sobs and tears?
Of misspent hours and wasted years? [Refrain]

3 I seem to hear despairing moans,
A weeping, weeping in your tones;
“The door is closed” ye ring in swells,
“Forever closed,” oh, tolling bells! [Refrain]

4 In warning tones, in solemn knells,
Ring out, ring out, oh tolling bells!
Let dying souls the warning hear;
And seek the Lord while he is near. [Refrain]

5 Have ye no joyous notes to ring,
Oh, tolling bells! for me to sing?
In Jesus boundless mercy dwells,—
Ye ring of him, oh, tolling bells! [Refrain]

6 And when I die, oh, tolling bells!
Ring out “I’ve gone where Jesus dwells,”
Peal out ye bells in joyous tone,
“The battle o’er, the victory won.” [Refrain]

Source: The Finest of the Wheat: hymns new and old, for missionary and revival meetings, and sabbath-schools #126

Author: John M. Whyte

John M. (Marchant) Whyte. Evangelist, hymn writer, singer, b Paris, Canada West (Ontario), 8 Jun 1850, d Toronto 17 Mar 1927. He studied at the University of Toronto and devoted himself to evangelistic and temperance work. Typical of several hundred songs for which he wrote the words or the music, or both, are 'Canada Shall Yet Be Free,' 'Toronto the Good,' and 'Song of Trust.' Many songs appeared in separate editions published by Toronto News Co or Briggs. With his brother David Albert Whyte he edited Sing Out the Glad News (Briggs 1885) and Songs of Calvary (Briggs 1889). The Great Redemption (Briggs 1894), Nuggets of Gold (Briggs 1898) and Battle Songs of the Cross (1901) contain many of his own melodies. Eight of his hymns are reprinted… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O tolling bells, O tolling bells
Title: O, Tolling Bells!
Author: John M. Whyte
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O, tolling bells
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Battle Songs of the Cross #d140

Page Scan

Songs of Calvary #47

TextAudioPage Scan

The Finest of the Wheat #126

Page Scan

The Great Redemption #184

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