The Torrington Ringers
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The Torrington Ringers (Roud 13908[1]) was collected by The Revd Sabine Baring-Gould in 1894.
In the sleeve notes of their album A Handful of Sky, Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll say "The words for this song came to us from the ex captain of the Torrington Bell Ringers but he couldn't remember the tune. We found a version of the same song in the Baring-Gould collection so blended the two together. Becki wrote the melody based on a six bell peal.".[2]
Lyrics collected by Baring-Gould from T Westlake Ward at Exbourne, Devon on 20 July 1894.[3]: There were six ringers in Torring did dwell And what their names were I can tell 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6; 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The first is called Turner, the second called Sweet And these ring the bells whenever they meet 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6; 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The third is a Vulcan, a blacksmith by trade The fourth a shoemaker, and has a brisk blade 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6; 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The fifth is a Doctor, a man of renown And he'll ring the fifth with the best in the town 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6; 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. And as for the tenor, I have not forgot, If I'm not mistaken his name is John Test (?) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6; 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. If I'm not mistaken his name is John Test (?) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6; 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.
