Forty Years Ago

Cat. #0402 (MFH #188) - As sung by Mrs. Chloe Bain, Elkton, Missouri on September 6, 1959

VERSE 1
I've wandered to th village, Tom
I sat beneath th tree
Upon th school house play ground
That sheltered you an' me
But none were left to greet me, Tom
An' few were left to know
Who played with me, upon th green
Just forty years ago

VERSE 2
Th grass was just as green, Tom
Were sporting just as we did then
With spirits jest as gay
But th master sleeps on th hill
Which coated over with snow
Afforded us a sliding place
Some forty years ago

VERSE 3
The ole school house, is changed some
Th benches are replaced
By new ones very like th same
Our jacknifes had defaced
But th same ole bricks are in th wall
Th bell swings to an' fro
It's music just th same, dear Tom
T'was forty years ago

VERSE 4
Th spring that bubbled 'neath th hill
Close by th spreading beech
Is very low, t'was once so high
That we could almost reach
And kneeling down to take a drink
Dear Tom, I started so
To think how very much I've changed
Since forty years ago

VERSE 5
Near by th spring, upon an elm
You know I cut your name
Your sweethearts just beneath it, Tom
An' you did mine th same
Some heartless wretch, has peeled th bark
T'was dying sure but slow
Just as that one, whose name you cut
Died forty years ago

VERSE 6
My lids have long been dry, Tom
But tears came in my eyes
I thought of her, I loved so well
Those early broken ties
I visted th ole churchyard
An' took some flowers, to strew
Upon th graves of those we loved
Just forty years ago

VERSE 7
Some are in, th churchyard laid
Some, sleep beneath th sea
An' none are left of our ole class
Excepting you an' me
An' when our time shall come, Tom
An' we are called to go
I hope we'll meet with those we love
Some forty years ago