Tony Rose - Devon Bell-Ringing Song lyrics

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