One day in October, neither drunken nor sober
O'er Broadbury Down I was mending my way
When I heard of some ringing, some dancing and singing
I'll always remember that jubilee day
'Twas in Ashwater town, the bells they did sound
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold
And the men of North Lew rang so steady and true
That there never were better in Devon I hold
'Twas misunderstood for the men of Broadwood
Rang a peel on the tenor should never have been
But the men of North Lew rang so steady and true
A difficult matter to beat them I ween
'Twas in Ashwater town, the bells they did sound
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold
And the men of North Lew rang so steady and true
That there never were better in Devon I hold
Those of Broadwood being naughty then said to our party
We'll ring you a challenge again in a round
We'll give you the chance in St. Stephen's by Launceston
The prize to the winner a note of five pound
'Twas in Callington town, the bells they did sound
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold
And the men of North Lew rang so steady and true
That there never were better in Devon I hold
So the match it went on at good Callington
And the bells they rang out o'er the valley below
And the old and young people, the hale and the feeble
They came out to hear the sweet bell music flow
'Twas in Callington town, the bells they did sound
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold
And the men of North Lew rang so steady and true
That there never were better in Devon I hold
Those of Broadwood once more were obliged to give o'er
They were beaten completely again in a round
But the men of North Lew Rang so steady and true
No better than they in the West can be found
'Twas in Ashwater town, the bells they did sound
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold
And the men of North Lew rang so steady and true
That there never were better in Devon I hold