Published in 1850, “Ring Out, Wild Bells” is a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The poem forms part of In Memoriam, Tennyson’s eulogy for his sister’s fiancé who died at the age of twenty-two. The ‘wild bells’ were at Waltham Abbey Church. Tennyson was staying in the vicinity and heard the bells ringing during a storm at night, swung by the wind rather than deliberately. – WIKIPEDIA
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 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 want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes But ring the fuller minstrel in.
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 of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.