RINGING THE BELLS FOR JIM
(June Carter / Jan Howard)
Johnny Cash - 1963


The Father heard church bells at midnight
A wrong time for church bells to chime
He went to the tower, found a little girl there
Said, "Why ring the bells at this time?"

"I'm just ringing the bells for Jim, please Father
Ringing the bells for Jim
I'm sorry I'm cryin', but my brother Jim's dyin'
So I'm ringing the bells for Jim"

"Please father pray for him this Christmas
He's sick and he's in so much pain
The doctors all say he'll be gone any day
So I must ring the bells again"

"I'm just ringing the bells for Jim, please Father
Ringing the bells for Jim
I'm sorry I'm cryin', but my brother Jim's dyin'
So I'm ringing the bells for Jim"

(Guitar Break)

On the day after Christmas she brought him
Said "Father, heed little Jim
You see he got well when he heard the church bells
I was ringing the bells for Jim"

"I'm just ringing the bells for Jim, please Father
Ringing the bells for Jim
I'm sorry I'm cryin', but my brother Jim's dyin'
So I'm ringing the bells for Jim"