The Festival Bell - Fairport Convention

1690 was the year, a bell was cast in Chacombe

William Bagley was the name, the foundry man the made them

With another five before, the lowest was a tenor

Settling for a six peal in the old church tower

There was such a gathering, all to bring the new year in

The captain of the ringers was a man named William Jack

300 years later now it’s minor and major

Ringing with St. Mary and The Festival Bell

Hold on to the tenor when the treble it is going

Be sure to watch the changes now you know that she is gone

Look to sally for a clue, then you’ll know just what to do

We’ll have to have a silent bell 'cos Bob’s not here

Is he in the Red Lion?

Maybe in the Brasenose?

Funny but you’d think that he was practising from there

300 years later now it’s minor and major

Ringing with St. Mary and The Festival Bell

So, still, in the tower waiting for the ringers

Centuries go by, still our voices sing

They ring throughout all Oxfordshire and out across the nation

Even in America, maybe Russia too

For every year in August there’s another celebration

Peace and love, rock and roll, and Wadworth’s too

Every act that takes the stage, all the music that is played

Is cast into a symbol in the old church tower

300 years later now it’s minor and major

Ringing with St. Mary and The Festival Bell

Every act that takes the stage, all the music that is played

Is cast into a symbol in the old church tower

300 years later now it’s minor and major

Ringing with St. Mary and The Festival Bell

Ringing with St. Mary and The Festival Bell