The Bells Of Kirkby Overblow

Draw back my curtains, Mary,          An' oppen t' windey wide;     Ay, ay, I know I'm deein',          While to-morn I'll hardlins bide.     But yit afore all's ovver,          An' I lig cowd as snow,     I'll hear once more them owd church bells                                  O' Kirkby Overblow.     Mony a neet an' mornin'          I've heerd yon church bells peal;     An' how I've threaped an' cursed 'em          When I was strong an' weel!     Gert, skelpin', chunterin' taistrils,(1)          All janglin' in a row!     Ay, mony a time I've cursed yon bells                                  O' Kirkby Overblow.     When you hear yon church bells ringin',          You can't enjoy your sin;     T' bells clutches at your heart-strings          I' t' ale-house ower your gin.     At pitch-an'-toss you're laikin',          Down theer i' t' wood below;     An' then you damn them rowpy(2) bells                                  O' Kirkby Overblow.     An' when I've set off poachin'          At back-end o' the year,     Wi' ferret, bag an' snickle,(3)          Church bells have catched my ear.     "Thou's takken t' road to Hell, lad,          Wheer t' pit-fire's bumin' slow;"     That's what yon bells kept shoutin' out                                  At Kirkby Overblow.     But now I'm owd an' bed-fast,          I ommost like their sound,     Ringin' so clear i' t' star-leet          Across the frozzen ground.     I niver mell on(4) parsons,          There ain't a prayer I know;     But prayer an' sarmon's i' yon bells                                  O' Kirkby Overblow.     Six boards o' gooid stout ellum          Is what I'll want to-morn;     Then lay me low i' t' church-yard          Aneath t' owd crooked thorn.     I'll have no funeral sarvice          When I'm browt down below,     But let 'em touzle t' bells like mad                                  At Kirkby Overblow.     I don't know wheer I'm boun' for,          It hardlins can be Heaven;     I've sinned more sins nor most men          'Twixt one an' seven-seven.     But this I'll tak my oath on:          Wheeriver I mun go,     I'll hark to t' echoes o' yon bells                                  O' Kirkby Overblow.