Ring loud the bell of good St John: Ding dong, dong ding dong! Ring loud the bell of good St John: Pray all, for the poor dead; aye pray, Kind folks, for spirits passed away. Soon as the midnight hour strikes, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Soon as the midnight hour strikes, The pale moon sheds around her light, And all the graveyard waxeth white. What seest thou, Ringer, in the close? Ding dong, dong ding dong! What seest thou, Ringer, in the close? "I see the dead men wake and sit Each one by his deserted pit." Full thousands seven and hundreds five, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Full thousands seven and hundreds five, Each on his grave's edge, yawning wide, His dead man's wrappings lays aside. Then leave they their white winding-sheets, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Then leave they their white winding-sheets, And walk, accomplishing their doom, In sad procession from the tomb. Full one thousand and hundreds five, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Full one thousand and hundreds five, And each one falls upon his knees Soon as the holy cross he sees. Full one thousand and hundreds five, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Full one thousand and hundreds five Arrest their footsteps, weeping sore When they have reached their children's door. Full one thousand and hundreds five, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Full one thousand and hundreds five Turn them aside and, listening, stay Whene'er they hear some kind soul pray. Full one thousand and hundreds five, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Full one thousand and hundreds five, Who stand apart and groan bereft, Seeing for them no friends are left. But soon as ever the white cock stirs, Ding dong, dong ding dong! But soon as ever the white cock stirs, They take again their cerements white, And in their hands a torch alight. But soon as ever the red cock crows, Ding dong, dong ding dong! But soon as ever the red cock crows, All sing the Holy Passion song, And in procession march along. But soon as the gilded cock doth shine, Ding dong, dong ding dong! But soon as the gilded cock doth shine, Their hands and their two arms they cross, And each descends into his foss. 'Tis now the dead men's second night, Ding dong, dong ding dong! Tis now the dead men's second night: Peter, go up to ring; nor dread If thou shouldst chance to see the dead. "The dead, the dead, they fright me not," Ding dong, dong ding dong! "The dead, the dead, they fright me not, --Yet prayers are due for the dead, I ween, And due respect should they be seen." When next the midnight hour strikes, Ding dong, dong ding dong! When next the midnight hour strikes, The graves gape wide and ghastly show The dead who issue from below.