A drama based on a true story, 1896.
words and music by Monroe H. Rosenfeld
published by Chas W. Held
From the sheet music cover: “The incidents in this song are based upon a tragedy which occurred in a western city. The author does not seek to glorify the event. He has simply tried to portray the tragedy in a simple tale, in its truth to nature may serve a useful moral and an interesting dramatic episode.”
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- A sexton stood one Sabbath eve
Within a belfry grand
A-waiting signal from the church
With bell rope 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
Chorus
“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 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 a loft
The bells range 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”
Chorus 2 & 3
“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 glitering 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 once more he murmured
Ere his lips were closed in death
Sung here by Fred Feild: