midnight falls
It was a man 's poem . It was in the English of the hearty times of Ben Jonson and of Kit Marlowe -- and every swinging line rang true . `` What will you say when the world is dying ? What when the last wild midnight falls , Dark , too dark for the bat to be flying Round the ruins of old St. Paul 's ? What will be last of the lights to perish ? What but the little red ring we knew , Lighting the hands and the hearts that cherish A fire , a fire , and a friend or two ! '' CHORUS : `` Up now , answer me , tell me true .