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