I've heard bells chiming full many a clime in,

Tolling sublime in cathedral shrine,

While at a glibe rate brass tongues would vibrate-
But all their music spoke nought like thine;
For memory dwelling on each proud swelling
Of the belfry knelling its bold notes free,
Made the bells of Shandon

Sound far more grand on

The pleasant waters of the river Lee.

I've heard bells tolling old "Adrian's Mole" in,
Their thunder rolling from the Vatican,

And cymbals glorious swinging uproarious

In the gorgeous turrets of Nôtre Dame;

But thy sounds were sweeter than the dome of Peter Flings o'er the Tiber, pealing solemnly;

O! the bells of Shandon

Sound far more grand on

The pleasant waters of the river Lee.

There's a bell in Moscow, while on tower and kiosk O!

In Saint Sophia the Turkman gets,

And loud in air calls men to prayer

From the tapering summit of tall minarets. Such empty phantom I freely grant them; But there is an anthem more dear to me, — "Tis the bells of Shandon,

That sound so grand on

The pleasant waters of the river Lee.

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin gray, an' a' that;

Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A Man's a Man for a' that:

For a' that, an' a' that,

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;

But an honest man's aboon his might,
Gude 10 faith, he maunna" fa'12 that!
For a' that, an' a' that,

Their dignities an' a' that;

The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)

That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that,

For a' that, an' a' that,

It's comin yet for a' that,

The Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.