Section One
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Give the engines room,Give the engines room."Louder, fasterThe little band-masterWhips up the fluting,Hurries up the tooting.He thinks that he stands,# To be read, or chanted, with the heavy buzzing bassof fire-engines pumping. #The reins in his hands,In the fire-chief's placeIn the night alarm chase.The cymbals whang,The kettledrums bang:--# In this passage the reading or chantingis shriller and higher. #"Clear the street,Clear the street,Clear the street--Boom, boom.In the evening gloom,In the evening gloom,Give the engines room,Give the engines room,Lest souls be trappedIn a terrible tomb."The sparks and the pine-brandsWhirl on highFrom the black and reeking alleysTo the wide red sky.Hear the hot glass crashing,Hear the stone steps hissing.Coal black streamsDown the gutters pour.There are cries for helpFrom a far fifth floor.For a longer ladderHear the fire-chief call.Listen to the musicOf the firemen's ball.Listen to the musicOf the firemen's ball.# To be read or chanted in a heavy bass. #"'Tis theNIGHTOf doom,"Say the ding-dong doom-bells."NIGHTOf doom,"Say the ding-dong doom-bells.Faster, fasterThe red flames come."Hum grum," say the engines,"Hum grum grum."# Shriller and higher. #"Buzz, buzz,"Says the crowd."See, see,"Calls the crowd."Look out,"Yelps the crowdAnd the high walls fall:--Listen to the musicOf the firemen's ball.Listen to the musicOf the firemen's ball.# Heavy bass. #"'Tis theNIGHTOf doom,"Say the ding-dong doom-bells."NIGHTOf doom,"Say the ding-dong doom-bells.Whangaranga, whangaranga,Whang, whang, whang,Clang, clang, clangaranga,# Bass, much slower. #Clang, clang, clang.Clang--a--ranga--Clang--a--ranga--Clang,Clang,Clang.Listen--to--the--music--Of the firemen's ball--
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