A nostalgic 1917 love song inspired by a visit to a church.
words by Douglas Furber
music by A. Emmett Adams
In 1914 a couple of Londoners took a trip to Southampton, a well-
known sea port on the southern coast of England. Douglas Furber
and Australia-born A. Emmet Adams went to see St. Mary’s Catholic
church. When the eight gigantic bells were rung they were both
inspired. So, as they sailed away back to London they wrote The
Bells of St. Mary’s together. Twenty-nine year old Furber imagined
wedding bells and set the lyrics as a love song. Adams wrote the
beautiful melody with bells sounds throughout. The song was soon
copyrighted but took a long time to be published. When it made it to
the U.S. in 1917 it became a hit. It was a popular college song. One
of the first to record it was soprano Frances Alda in late 1919. It
became a hit again when Bing Crosby put it in a film and recorded
it in 1946.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment track:
Lyrics
- The bells of St. Mary’s at sweet eventide
Shall call me beloved, to come to your side
And out in the valley in sound of the sea
I know you’ll be waiting, yes waiting for me
Refrain
The Bells of St. Mary’s, ah! hear they are calling
The young loves, the true loves, who come from the sea
And so, my beloved, when red leaves are falling
The love bells shall ring out, ring out for you and me
- At the porch of St. Mary’s I’ll wait there with you
In your soft wedding dress with its ribbons of blue
In the church of St. Mary’s sweet voices shall sing
For you and me dearest the wedding bells ring
Sung here by Fred Feild: