They used to think the swallows were living under water
All through the winter when they were missing from the trees
They used to think the geese budded from the branches
Each gentle sunny spring when they came back again
But the swallows and the geese, they have always heard
The ringing of the bells that echo through the earth
The monarch butterflies in their cloud of orange wings
And all the golden eels swimming through the sea
They are following a path to places never seen
They see the secret map the moon draws on the sea
The butterflies and eels, they have always heard
The ringing of the bells that echo through the earth
But the airplanes overhead hang heavy in the air
And all the shiny cars, they circle in despair
“Where am I?” they cry. “where are you? Where am I?”
But they will never hear the bells that ring tonight