In the Old Church Tower

By Thomas Bailey Aldrich

In the old church tower
Hangs the bell;
And above it on the vane,
In the sunshine and the rain,
Cut in gold, St. Peter stands,
With the keys in his claspt hands,
And all is well.
In the old church tower
Hangs the bell;
You can hear its great heart beat,
Ah! so loud, and wild, and sweet,
As the parson says a prayer
Over wedded lovers there,
And all is well.
In the old church tower
Hangs the bell;
Deep and solemn, hark! again,
Ah, what passion and what pain!
With her hands upon her breast,
Some poor Soul has gone to rest
Where all is well.
In the old church tower
Hangs the bell—
An old friend that seems to know
All our joy and all our woe;
It is glad when we are wed,
It is sad when we are dead,
And all is well!

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