Cat. #1146 (MFH #797) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on July 15, 1970
VERSE 1
My Grandfathers clock was to large for th shelf
So it stood ninety years on th floor
It was taller by half, that the ole man 'imself
Thought it weighed not a penny-weight more
It was brought on th morn of th day that he was born
An' was always his treasures and pride
But it stopped, short, never t' go again
When th ole man died
CHORUS:
Ninety years without slumber
His life second number
But h'it stopped short, never t' go again
When th ole man died
VERSE 2
My Grandfather said, that of those he could hire
Not a servant so faithful he found
For it wasted no time an' had but one desire
That was the end of each week to be wound
An' it struck twenty-four when he entered th door
With a blushin' an' beautiful bride
But it stopped, short, never to go again
When th ole man died
VERSE 3
It rang that alarm in th dead of th night
An alarm that for years had been done
An' he knew that his spirit was bloomin' for flight
That his airs of departure had done
Still th clock kept th time with its soft an' muffle rhyme
As we silent stood by his side
But it stopped short, never to go again
When th old man died