Stephen Foster Lyrics

 

Open Thy Lattice Love

    Open thy lattice love, listen to me!
The cool balmy breeze is a_broad on the sea!
    The moon like a queen, roams her realms of blue,
And the stars keep their vigils in heaven for you
    Ere morn's gushing light tips the hills with its ray,
A_way o'er the waters a_way and a_way!
    Then o_pen they lattice, love listen to me!
While the moon's in the sky and breeze on the sea!

    Open thy lattice, love listen to me!
In the voyage of life, love our pilot will be!
    He will sit at the helm wherever we rove,
And steer by the load-star he kindled above
    His shell for a shallop will cut the bright spray,
Or skim like a bird o'er the waters away;
        Then open thy lattice & c.

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There's a Good Time Coming

There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
We may not live to see the day,
But earth shall glisten in the ray.
Of the good time coming.
Cannon balls may aid the truth,
But thought's a weapon stronger;
Well win our battle by its aid;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
The pen shall supersede the sword,
And right, not might shall be the lord,
In the good time coming;
Worth, not birth, shall rule mankind,
And be acknowledg'd stronger;
The proper impulse has been giv'n;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming boys,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
War in all men's eyes shall be
A monster of iniquity.
In the good time coming.
Nations shall not quarrel then,
To prove which is the stronger;
Nor slaughter men for glory's sake;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming, boy's,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
Shameful rivalries of creed
Shall not make the martyr bleed,
In the good time coming.
Religion shall be shorn of pride,
And flourish all the stronger;
And Charity shall trim her lamp;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming, boys,
A good time coming.
A good time coming;:
And a poor man's family,
Shall not be his misery,
In the good time coming;
Ev'ry child shall be a help,
To make his right arm stronger;
The happier he, the more he has;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming boys,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
Little children shall not toil
Under, or above the soil.
In the good time coming.
But shall play in healthful fields,
Till limbs and minds grow stronger;
And ev'ry one shall read and write;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming boys,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
The people shall be temperate,
And shall love instead of hate,
In the good time coming,
They shall use, and not abuse,
And make all virtue stronger;
The reformation has begun;
Wait a little longer.

There's a good time coming boys,
A good time coming,
A good time coming;
Let us aid it all we can,
Ev'ry woman, ev'ry man,
The good time coming.
Smallest helps, if rightly giv'n,
Make the impulse stronger;
'Twill be strong enough one day;
Wait a little longer.

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Autumn Waltz
[instrumental only]

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Lou'siana Belle

Lou..si..ana's de same old state,
Whar Mas...sa us'd to dwell;
He had a lub..ly cul..lud gal
'Twas the Lou...si..a....na Belle.

chorus:
Oh!  Belle don't you tell, don't tell Massa, don't you Belle,
Oh!  Bell, de Lou'si..a..na Belle,
I's gwine to marry you Lou'siana Belle.

I wen to de ball de udder night,
I cut a mighty swell;
I danc'd de Polka pigon_wing,
Wid de Lou'si...a.....na Belle.

Dere's Dandy Jim ob Caroline_
I knows him by de swell,
Trying to come it mighty fine,
Wid de Loui'siana Belle.

Dere's first de B and den de E,
And den de double LL;
A nodder E to the end ob day,
Spells Lou'siana Belle.

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What Must a Fairy's Dream Be?

What must a Fairy's dream be,
Who drinks of the morning dew?
Would she think to fly till she reach'd the sky
And bathe in its lakes of blue
Or gather bright pearls from the depths of the sea
What must the dream of a fairy be?

What must a fairy's dream be,
Who sleeps when the Mermaid sings?
Would she rob the night of her jewels bright,
To spangle her silv'ry wings?
Rock 'don the wind 'bove the land and the sea,
What can the dream of a fairy be?

What must a Fairy's dream be
When storms in their anger cry?
Would she madly chase in the winds embrace,
The lightning gleaming by,
Or seize on its flash with a child-like glee,
What must the dream of a Fairy be?

What must a fairy's dream be
When mid-summer breezes play?
Would she proudly sail on the perfum'd gale
To welcome the dawn of day?
I know that her visions are sportive and free.--
What must the dream of a Fairy be?

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Where is Thy Spirit Mary?

Where is thy spirit, Mary?
Dwells it in the air?
Friends thou hast forsaken
Fondly deem 'tis ling'ring there.
I heard an old-time ballad,
Low and plaintive was the strain
So pure and clear, I seem'd to hear
They gentle voice again.
She who sang was lovely,
She was innocent and fair
And I said, if angels guard us,
Thy sweet spirit lingers there.

Where is thy spirit, Mary?
Watching while we sleep?
Dost weep for those who wept for thee?
Do angels ever wee;?
The autumn leaf had wilted
Ere thou hadst lost thy bloom.
But when that leaf had left its stem
It settled on thy tomb.
Spring birds now returning
With their music fill the air,
And we know by that sweet warning
That they spirit lingers there.

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Uncle Ned

Dere was an old Nigga, dey call'd him Uncle Ned
He's dead long ago, long ago!
He had no wool on de top ob his head
De place whar de wool ought to grow.

chorus:
Den lay down de shubble and de hoe
Hang up de fiddle and de bow:
No more work for poor Old Ned
He's gone where the good Niggas go.

When Old Ned die Massa take it mighty bad,
De tears run down like de rain;
Old missus turn pale, and she gets berry sad
Cayse she nebber see Old Ned again.

His fingers were long like de cane in de brake,
He had no eyes for to see;
He had no teeth for eat de corn cake
So had to let de corn cake be.

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Stay Summer Breath

Summer breath, Summer breath, whisp'ring low,
Wand'ring in the darkness, where would'st thou go?
Wilt thou not linger and perfume the night,
With the Fragrance thou'st gather'd in regions of light?
Dost sigh for the rose, would'st though visit her bower,
Or sport with the mist till the coming of day;
Or art thou seeking some modest wild flower,
Whose beauty is gone with the sun's parting ray.

Summer Breath, Summer breath, woo not the rose,
There lies the dew drop in blissful repose,
Nestling together, they know not of death;
Would'st waft them a sunder?
Stay summer breath.
Stay for the vapours above yonder fountain,
Will shun they caresses they love not the air.
And all the wild flowers that bloom on the mountain,
Will shrink from they kiss Summer breath, go not there!

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Santa Anna's Retreat from Buena Vista
[instrumental]

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Susanna

I come from Alabama with my Banjo on my knee
I'se gwine to Lou'siana my true lub for to see.
It rain'd all night de day I left, de wedder it was dry;
The sun so hot I froze to def -- Susanna, don't you cry.

chorus:
Oh!  Susanna, do not cry for me;
I come from Alabama,
Wid my Banjo on my knee.

I jump'd aboard the telegraph and trabbled down de ribber,
De lectrick fluid magnified, and kill'd five hundred Nigga.
De bulgine bust and de hoss ran off, I really thought I'd die;
I shut my eyes to hold my bref--Susanna don't you cry.

I had a dream de udder night, when ebry ting was still;
I thought I saw Susanna dear, coming down de hill,
De buckwheat cake was in her mouf, de tear was in her eye,
I says, I'se coming from de souf, --Susanna don't you cry.

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Away Down Souf

We'll put for de souf--Ah! dat's the place,
For the steeple chase and de bully hoss race--
Poker, brag, eucher, seven up and loo,
Den chime in Niggas, won't you come along too.

chorus:
No use talken when de Nigga wants to go,
Whar de corn-top blossom and de canebrake grow;
Den come along to Cuba, and we'll dance de polka juba,
Way down souf, whar de corn grow.

My lub she hab a very large mouf,
One in de norf, tudder corner in de souf;
It ams so long, it reach so far--
Trabble all around it on a railroad car.

I went last night to see my Sally--
Two story house in Pig tail ally,
Whar de skeeters buz, and de fleas dey bite,
And de bull dogs howl and de tom cats fight.

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Nelly Was a Lady

Down on de Mississippi floating,
Long time I trabble on de way,
All night de cotton wood a toting,
Sing for my true lub all de day.

chorus:
Nelly was a lady
Lastnight she died,
Toll de bell for lubly Nell
My dark Virginny bride.

Now I'm unhappy and I'm weeping,
Can't tote de cotton wood no more;
Last night, while Nelly was a sleeping,
Death came a knockin at de door.

When I saw my Nelly in de morning,
Smile till she open'd up her eyes,
Seem'd like de light ob day a dawning,
Jist 'fore de sun begin to rise.

Close by de margin ob de water,
Whar de lone weeping willow grows,
Dar lib Virginny's lubly daughter;
Dar she in death may find repose.

Down in de meadow mong de clober,
Walk wid my Nelly by my side;
Now all dem happy days am ober;
Farewell my dark Virginny bride.

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My Brodder Gum

White Folks I'll sing for you,
Nuffin else to do,
Spend my time a pickin on de banjo, Hay!
Brodder Gum.

chorus:
My Brodder Gum,
My Brodder Gum so fair,
All de yaller galls runnin round,
Try to get a lock ob his hair.

Hard work all de day,
Hab no time to play,
Berry fine time a diggin in the cornfield, Hay!
Brudder Gum.

Tudder afternoon, I thought I saw de moon,
Saw my true lub comin through de cane-brake,
Hay!  Brudder Gum.

Went one berry fine day,
To ride in a one horse sleigh,
Hollow'd to de old hoss comin through de toll gate,
Hay!  Brudder Gum.

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Dolcy Jones

Oh!  ladies dont you wonder
When I again appear:
I've just been ober yonder
To see my Dolcy dear;
For Dolcy steps so lightly
Among de bricks and stones,
Her eyes dey shine so brightly
Oh!  dadda,
D' D' Dolcy Jones!

chorus:
Bye, by, my darling!
Sleed to de rattle ob de bones!
Slumber till morning,
My lubly Dolcy Jones!

Oh!  When I go a courting
I ride thr'o mud and rain;
I leave de old hoss snorting
At de corner ob de lane.
I find my Dolcy weeping,
And charm her wid de bones,
Bye'n bye I leabe her sleeping,
Oh! dadda, D'D' Dolcy Jones!

I went up town dis morning
To sing a little song;
Miss Dolcy send me warning
To bring my boots along;
For de yard is paved wid sinder,
And de house is built ob stones
And a head is at de window,
Oh! dada, D'D' Dolcy Jones!

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Summer Longings

Waiting for the May
Waiting for the pleasant rambles,
Where the fragrant hawthorn brambles,
With the woodbine alternating,
Scent the dewy way.
Ah!  My heart is weary waiting,
Waiting for the May.

Ah!  my heart is sick with longing,
Longing for the May.
Longing to escape from study,
To the young face air and ruddy,
And the thousands charms belonging
To the summer's day.
Ah!  my heart is longing,
Longing for the May.

Ah! my heart is sore with sighing,
Sighing for the May.
Sighing for their sure returning
When the summer beams are burning,
Hope and flow'rs that dead or dying
All the winter lay.
Ah! my heart is sore with sighing,
Sighing for the May.

Ah!  my heart is pained with throbbing,
Throbbing for the May
Throbbing for the seaside billows,
Or the water-wooing willows;
Where in laughing and in sobbing
Glide the streams away.
Ah!  my heart, my heart is throbbing,
Throbbing for the May.

Waiting sad, dejected, weary,
Waiting for the May.
Spring goes by with wasted warnings
Moonlight evenings, sunbright mornings
Summer comes, yet dark and dreary
Life still ebbs away
Man is ever weary weary
Waiting for the May.

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Oh! Lemuel!

Oh!  Lemuel my lark,
Oh Lemuel my beau,
I's guine to gib a ball tonight,
I'd hab you for to know;
But if you want to dance,
Just dance outside de door;
Cayse your feet so berry large
Dey'll cover all de floor.
Oh!  Lem! Lem! Lem! Lemuel I say!
Go down to de cotton field,
And bring de boys away.

chorus:
Go down to de cotton field!
Go down, I say!
Go down and call de Nigga boys all:
We'll no  more today

Oh!  Lemuel my hope,
Oh!  Lemuel my joy
I'll tell you who'll be at de ball
My woolly headed boy.
Dere's Nelly Bly, you know,
And Juliana Snow,
Dere's cane-brake Kitty likes de boys,
And she'll be sure to go.
Oh!  Lem! Lem! Lem!  Leumel I say!
Go down to de cotton field and bring de boys away.

Oh!  Lemuel is tall,
Oh!  Lemuel is fair,
Oh Lemuel has gone to day
To take de morning air.
He makes de fiddle hum,
He makes de banjo tum,
He rattles on de old jaw bone,
And beats upon de drum.
Oh!  Lem! Lem! Lem! Lemuel I say!
Go down to de cotton field and bring de boys away.

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Mary Loves the Flowers

Mary loves the flowers!
Ah!  how happy they!
E'en their darkest hours,
To me were bright, bright summer day.
Receiving all her kisses,
Inhaling ev'ry sigh,
Ever fondly bending
Toward the radiance of her eye,
The lily and the morning glory,
Can they, can they die?


Mary loves the flowers!  Ah! how happy they!
E'en their darkest hours,
To me were bright, bright summer day.

Let no elfin finger
Blur from memory's sand
Her name ah! let is linger
While my air built castles stand.
To feel her soft caressing,
Her ev'ry smile to see,
To bear her ardent blessing
Breathed in lute-toned melody
To die beneath her tender care
Were life, were life to me.


Mary loves the flowers!
Ah!  how happy they!
E'en their darkest hours,
To me were bright, bright summer day.

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Nelly Bly

Nelly Bly!  Nelly Bly!  bring de broom along,
We'll sweep de kitchen clean, my dear, and hab a little song.
Poke de wood, my lady lub,
And made de fire burn,
And while I take de banjo down,
Just gib de mush a turn.

chorus:
Heigh!  Nelly Ho!  Nelly, listen lub to me,
I'll sing for you play for you, a dulcem melody.
Heigh!  Nelly Ho!  Nelly, listen lub to me,
I'll sing for you play for you, a dulcem melody.

Nelly Bly hab a voice like de turtle dove,
I hears it in de meadow and I hears it in de grove
Nelly Bly hab a heart warm as a cup ob tea,
And bigger dan de sweet potato down in Tennessee,

Nelly Bly shuts her eye when she goes to sleep,
When she wakens up again her eyeballs goin to peep


De way she walks, she lifts her foot, and den she brings it down,
And when it lights der's music dah in dat part ob de town.

Nelly Bly!  Nelly!  nebber, nebber, sigh,
Nebber bring de tear drop to de corner ob your eye,
For de pie is made ob punkins and de mush is made ob corn,
And der's corn and pumpkins plenty lub a lyin in de barn.

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Soiree Polka
[instrumental]

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Dolly Day

I've told you 'bout de banjo,
De fiddle and de bow,
Likewise about de cottonfield,
De shubble and de hoe;
I've sung about de bulgine
Dat blew de folks away,
And now I'll sing a little song
About my Dolly Day.

chorus:
Oh!  Dolly Day looks so gay,
I run all round and round,
To hear her fairy footsteps play,
As she comes oer de ground.

I like to see de clover
Dat grows about de lane,
I like to see de 'bacco plant,
I like de sugar cane;
But on de old plantation
Der's nothing half so gay,
Der's nothing dat I love so much
As my sweet Dolly Day.

When de work is over
I make de banjo play,
And while I strike de dulcem notes,
I think of Dolly Day.
Her form is like a spy
De lily of de vale
Her voice is far de sweetest sound
Dat floats upon de gale

Massa give me money
To buy a peck of corn
I'se guine to marry Dolly Day
And build myself a barn;
Dem when I'm old and feeble,
And when my head is grey,
Ill trabble down de hill of life
Along wid Dolly Day.

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Camptown Races

De Camptown ladies sing dis song
Doo dah!  doo dah!
De Camptown race track five miles long
Oh!  doo dah day!
I come down dah wid my hat caved in
Doo dah!  doo dah!
I go back home wid a pocket full of tin
Oh!  doo dah day!

chorus:
Gwine to run all night!
Gwine to run all day!
I'll bet my money on de bobtail nag
Somebody bet on de bay.

De long tail filly and de big black hoss
Doo dah!  doo dah!
Dey fly de track and dey both cut across
Oh!  doo dah day!
De blind hoss sticken in a big mud hole
Doo dah!  doo dah!
Can't touch bottom wid a ten foot pole
Oh!  doo dah day!

Old muley cow come on to de track
Doo dah!  doo dah!
De bob tail fling her ober his back
Oh!  doo dah day!
Den fly along like a railroad car
Doo dah!  doo dah!
Runnin a race wid a shootin' star
Oh!  doo dah day!

See dem flyin on a ten mile heat
Doo dah!  doo dah!

Round de race track, den repeat
Oh!  doo dah day!
I win my money on de bob tail nag
Oh!  doo dah day!
I keep my money in an old tow bag
Oh!  doo dah day!

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Angelina Baker

Way down on de old plantation
Dah's where I was born,
I used to beat de whole creation
Hoein' in de corn:
Oh! den I work and den I sing
So happy all de day,
Till Angelina Baker came
And stole my heart away.

chorus:
Angelina Baker!
Angelina Baker's gone
She left me here to weep a tear
And beat on de old jaw bone.

I've seen my Angelina
In de spring time and de fall,
I've seen her in de corn field
And I've seen her at de ball;
And ebry time I met her
She was smiling like de sun,
But now I'm left to weep a tear
Cayse Angelina's gone.

Angelina am so tall
She nebber sees de ground,
She hab to take a wellumscope
To look down on de town
Angelina likes de boys
As far as she can see dem,
She used to run old Massa round
To ax him for to free dem.

Early in de morning
Ob a lubly summer day
I ax for Angelina,
And dey say she's gone away"
I dont know wha to find her,
Cayse I don't know wha she's gone,
She left me here to weep a tear
And beat on de old jaw bone.

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Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway

Ah!  may the red rose live alway,
To smile upon earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?
Lending a charm to ev'ry ray
That falls on her cheeks of light,
Giving the zephyr kiss for kiss,
And nursing the dew drop bright
Ah!  may the red rose live alway,
To smile upon the earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?

Long may the daisies dance the field,
Frolicking far and near!
Why should the innocent hide their heads?
Why should the innocent fear?
Spreading their petals in mute delight
When morn in its radiance breaks,
Keeping a floral festival
Till night loving primrose wakes
Long may the daisies dance the field,
Frolicking far and near!
Why should the innocent hide their heads?
Why should the innocent fear?

Lulled be the dirge in the cypress bough,
That tells of departed flowers!
Ah!  that the butterflys gilded wing
Fluttered in evergreen bowers!
Sad is my heart for the blighted plants
Its pleasures are aye as brief
They bloom at the young years joyful call,
And fade with the autumn leaf:
Ah!  may the red rose live alway,
To smile upon earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?

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Way Down in C-a-i-r-o

Oh!  ladies dont you blush when I come out to play;
I only mean to please you all, and den I's guine away.

chorus:
I hear my true lub weep,
I hear my true lub sigh,
'Way down in Cairo dis nigga's guine to die.

Sometimes de niggas life is sad,
Sometimes his life is gay,
When de work dont come too hard
He's singing all de day.

Now we libs on de fat ob de land,
Now we libs on de lean
When we hab no cake to bake
We sweep de kitchen clean.

Massa bought a bran new coat
And hung it on de wall,
Dis nigga's guine to take dat coat,
And wear it to de ball.

All de ladies in de land,
And all de gemmen too.
Am guine to hear de darkey band
And see what they can do.

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Molly Do You Love Me?

Molly do you love me?
Can the morning beam
Love a lowly flowret
Living in its gleam?
Let one gentle whisper
All my doubts destroy
Let my dreamy rapture
Turn to waking joy.
Molly do you love me?
Tell me, tell me true!
Molly do you love me,
Love as I love you?

Tell me, by those ringlets,
By those eyes of blue,
Molly! do you love me,
Love as I love you?
Can that voice's music
Flow from heartless glee?
Must I read no feeling
In that melody?
Molly! do you love me?
Tell me, tell me true!
Molly!  do you love me,
Love as I love you?

Ah! my heart has yielded
To those smiles that play
With the merry dimples
All the live-long day.
Though the tender blossoms
Need the summer light,
Let our hearts, united,
Brave affliction's blight.
Molly!  do you love me?
Tell me, tell me true!
Molly!  do you love me,
Love as I love you?

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Voice of Bygone Days

Ah! the voice of by gone days.
Will come back again,
Whispering to the weary hearted
Many a soothing strain,
Youthful fancy then returns,
Childish hope the bosom burns,
Joy, that manhood coldly spurns,
Then flows in memory's sweet refrain.
Ah!  the voice of bygone days
Will come back again,
Whispering to the weary hearted
Many a soothing strain.

Ah! the voice of bygone days
Murmurs to my brain
Till the cherish'd forms departed
See to live again
Weeping old-time sorrows o'er,
Smiling as in days of yore
When each heart its burden bore
Of love and pity, bliss and pain.
Ah!  the voice of by gone days
Will come back again,
Whispering to the weary hearted
Many a soothing strain.

Ah! the voice of by gone days
Bids my memory rove
To the fair and gentle being
Of my early love,
She was radiant as the light,
She was pure as dews of night,
And beloved of angels bright,
She join'd their bless'd and happy train.
Ah! the voice &c

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The Spirit of My Song

Tell me, have you ever met her
Met the spirit of my song?
Have her wave like footsteps glided
Through the citys worldly throng?
You will know her by a wreath,
Woven all of starry light,
That is lying mid her hair
Braided hair as dark as night.
Tell me, have you ever met her
Met the spirit of my song?
Have her wave like footsteps glided
Through the city's worldly throng?

A short band of radiant summers
Is upon her forehead laid,
Twining half in golden sunlight,
Sleeping hair in dreamy shade:
Five white fingers clasp a lyre,
Five its silv'ry strings awake,
And bewildering to the soul
Is the music that they make.
Tell me have you ever met her
Met the spirit &c.

Though her glances sleep like shadows
'Neath each falling, silken lash,
Yes, at aught that wakes resentment,
They magnificently flash.
Though you loved such dewy dream-light,
And such glance of sweet surprise,
You could never bear the scorn
Of those proud and brilliant eyes.
Tell me &c

There's a sweet and winning cunning
In her bright lip's crimson hue,
And a flitting tint of roses
From her soft cheek gleaming through:
Do you think that you have met her?
She is young and pure and fair,
And she wears a wreath of starlight
In her braided ebon hair.
Tell me, have you ever me her &c.

Often at her feet I'm sitting,
With my head upon her knee,
While she tells me dreams of beauty
In low words of melody:
And, when my unskillful fingers
Strive her silvery lyre to wake,
She will smooth my tresses, smiling
At the discord which I make.
Tell me &c

But of late days I have missed her
The bright being of my love
And perchance she's stolen pinions
And has floated up above.
Tell me have you ever met her
Met the spirit of my song?
Have her wavelike footsteps glided
Through the city's worldly throng?
Tell me, have you ever met her
Met the spirit of my song?
Have her wave-like footsteps glided
Through the city's worldly throng?

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The Soiree Polka
[instrucmental]

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I Would Not Die in Spring Time

I would not die in Spring time
When all is bright around,
And fair young flowers are peeping
From out the silent ground,
When life is on the water
And joy upon the shore;
For winter gloomy winter
Then reigns o'er us no more.

I would not die in Summer
When music's on the breeze,
And soft, delicious murmurs
Float ever through the trees,
And fairy birds and singing
From morn till close of day
No: with its transient glories
I would not pass away.

When breezes leave the mountain,
Its balmy sweet all o'er
To breath around the fountain
And fan our bowers no more.
With Summer flowers are dying
Within the lonely glen,
And Autumn winds are sighing
I would not perish then.

But let me die in Winter
When night hangs dark above,
And cold the snow is lying
On bosoms that we love
Ah!  may the wind at midnight,
That bloweth from the sea,
Chant mildly, softly, sweetly
A requiem for me.

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Turn Not Away!

Turn not away!
Turn not away
From the fond heart thou hast slighted;
Scorn not my dream,
Bright as the beam
E'er by thy cold frown benighted.
E'er by thy cold frown benighted
E'er by thy cold frown benighted.
Bid me not now
Spurn every vow
Once so confidingly plighted
Where shall I turn
How can I learn
Other delights to awaken?
Ne'ever can I find
Joy for my mind,
Hope from my heart being taken.
Hope from my heart being taken
Hope from my heart being taken.
Vainly I'll strive
Hope to revive
When my thee scorned and forsaken.

Turn not away!
Turn not away
From the fond heart thou hast slighted;
Scorn not my dream,
Bright as the beam
E'er by thy cold frown benighted
E'er by thy cold frown benighted
E'er by thy cold frown benighted.
Bid me not now
Spurn every vow
Once so confidingly plighted.

When I would smile,
Grief to beguile,
Peace from my breast has departed;
When I would hide
Anguish in pride
Sorrowing teardrops have started
Sorrowing teardrops have started
Sorrowing teardrops have started.
Turn not away!
Turn not away!
Leave me not now broken hearted!

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Village Bells Polka
[instrumental]

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Lily Ray

While in their sunny bowers,
Sweet birds rejoice,
Mingling with budding flowers,
Loves gentle voice,
Grief to thy memory
Tuneth a lay,
Lovely departed one,
Sweet Lily Ray
Lovely departed one,
Sweet Lily Ray.

When slumber's dreamy light
O'er me is thrown,
Calling in visions bright,
Days that are gone,
While round my drooping heart,
Joy seems to play,
Fondly I dream of thee,
Sweet Lily Ray
Fondly I dream of thee,
Sweet Lily Ray.

When liquid melody
Falls on mine ear,
Then I impulsively
Deem thou art near;
But when a gentle form
Passeth away,
Sadly I mourn for thee,
Sweet Lily Ray.
Sadly I mourn for thee,
Sweet Lily Ray.

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Give the Stranger Happy Cheer

Give the stranger happy cheer,
When o'er his cheek, the teardrops start,
The balm that flows from one kind word
May heal the wound in a breaking heart.
Scorn not the grief that his breast may outpour
It may be for loved ones on some distant shore.
Oh! give the stranger happy cheer,
When, o'er his cheek, the teardrops start,
The balm that flows from one kind word
May heal the wound in a breaking heart.

Give the stranger happy cheer,
While forms familiar 'round ye stand,
Ye may not know what weight of woe
The wanderer bears in an unknown land.
Around ye no blessings more sweetly may fall
Than those which the way-wearied exile may call.
Oh! give the stranger happy cheer.
When, o'er his cheek the tear-drops start,
The balm that flows from one kind word
May heal the wound in a breaking heart.

Give the stranger happy heer.
Where e'er you find him, wan and weak,
'Twere little cost, 'twere nothing lost
To all a smile o'er his care-worn cheek.
Your kindness for years in his memory may rest
To gladden his footsteps and comfort his breast.
Oh! give the stranger happy cheer,
When, o'er his cheek the teardrops start,
The balm that flows from one kind word
May heal the wound in a broken heart.

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Melinda May

Lubly Melinda, come now my dear,
I'm waiting, I'm waiting for you.
Shut down de window, dry up de tear,
And walk wid me ober de dew.

chorus:
Lubly Melinda, Melinda, Melinda, my sweet Melinda May!
I could work in de field and be happy all de day,
If you would only smile again, my sweet Melinda May.

Laugh in de sunshine, weep in de rain,
And walk wha de lily bud bloom,
Down in de meadow, ober de lane,
Oh! come, my Melinda lub, come.

Lubly Melinda is bright as de beam,
Now snow-drop was ebber more fair,
She smiles like de roses dat bloom round de stream,
And sings like de birds in de air.

If I was a hero and people would fall
Where ebber I'd tell dem to lie,
I'd make my Melinda de queen ob dem all,
And lib on delight ob her eye.

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Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?

Juliet
Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love, gone, love, from me?
Stay! 'tis the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
Deem not 'tis the Lark, love; day is not yet near
Believe me, 'tis the Nightingale whose song hath piered thine ear.
Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love, wilt thou be gone from me?
Stay! 'tis the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
Love, 'tis the Nightingale, love, 'tis the Nightingale, love, 'tis the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love, gone, love, from me gone, love, from me?
Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love, wilt thou be gone from me?
Stay! 'tis the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
Love, 'tis the Nightingale, love, 'tis the Nightingale, love, 'tis the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love, gone, love, from me gone, love, from me?

Romeo
I must be gone, love, I must be gone from thee
'Tis not the nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
'Tis the Lark, 'tis the Lark, 'tis the Lark, 'tis the Lark, love, that sings in yonder tree.
I must be gone, I must be gone, love, gone, love from thee gone, love, from thee.
It is the Lark, the herald of the morn, love; no Nightingale.
See! the clouds are bright'ning, the stars are growing pale
Day is on yon mountain top that veils the eastern sky
I must be gone and live, love, or stay with thee and die.
I must be gone, I must be gone, love, I must be gone from thee.
'Tis not the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.
'Tis the Lark, 'tis the Lark, 'tis the Lark, 'tis the Lark, love, that sings in yonder tree.
I must be gone, I must be gone, love, I must be gone, love, from thee.

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Mother, Thou'rt Faithful to Me

Mother, dear mother, 'tis sweet to know,
In stemming the current through life's ebb and flow,
Though heartless and fickle all else may be,
Thou'rt ever, ever faithful to me.
When hopes are dethroned and pleasures depart,
When sickness or are o'er shadows my heart,
Though other may leave me for wealth or fame,
Mother, mother, thou'rt ever the same.

Mother, dear mother, thy smiles and tears
Have hallowed my footsteps in youth's tender years,
And still will their memory a charm impart
That never, never shall fade from my heart.
Each wish of my soul in thy bosom was caught
E'er grief framed a word or hope knew a thought,
And still, though unmindful I've been of thee,
Mother, mother, thou'rt faithful to me.

Mother, dear mother, amid the strife
Thy spirit hath borne in the battle of life,
Mid envy, ambition, deceit, and pride,
Thou'st ever fondly clung to my side.
Time's running sands have furrowed thy brow,
Care hath bedimmed thy cheek's native glow;
But, warm in affection of sacred hue,
Mother, mother, thou'rt faithful and true.

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Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair

Sweetly she sleeps, my Alice fair,
Her cheek on the pillow pressed,
Sweetly she sleeps, while her Saxon hair,
Like sunlight, streams o'er her breast.
Hush! let her sleep! I pray, sweet breeze,
Breathe low on the maple bough!
Hush! bright bird, on her window trees!
For sweetly she sleepest now.

Sweetly she sleeps, my Alice fair,
Her cheek on the pillow pressed,
Sweetly she sleeps, while her Saxon hair,
Like sunlight, streams o'er her breast.
Sweetly she sleeps, my Alice fair,
Her cheek like the first May rose,
Sweetly she sleeps, and all her care
Is forgotten in soft repose.
Hush! though the earliest beams of light
Their wings in the blue sea dip,
Let her sleep, I pray, while her dreams are bright,
And a smile is about her lip.
Sweetly she sleeps, my Alice fair,
Her cheek on the pillow pressed,
Sweetly she sleeps, while her Saxon hair,
Like sunlight, streams o'er her breast.

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Farewell! Old Cottage

Farewell! old cottage,
You and I must part;
I leave your faithful shelter
With a poor breaking heart.
The stranger, in his might,
Hath cast our lot in twain;
The term of our delight
Must close in parting pain.
Farewell! old cottage
Farewell! old cottage,
You and I must part;
I leave your faithful shelter
With a poor breaking heart.

Farewell! old cottage,
Memory still inthralls
The loved ones of my childhood
In your time beaten walls.
Here my brother played
In pride of health and youth,
Here my sister prayed
In purity and truth.
Farewell! old cottage
Farewell! old cottage,
You and I must part;
I leave your faithful shelter
With a poor breaking heart.

Farewell! old cottage,
Oft times from afar
Yon window light hath served me
As a loved guiding star,
And cheered a heart that longed
To join the household mirth
Where happy faces thronged
A hospitable hearth.
Farewell! old cottage
Farewell! old cottage,
You and I must part;
I leave your faithful shelter
With a poor breaking heart.

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Once I Loved Thee Mary Dear

Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!
As the dewdrop bright and clear,
Born but newly,
Sparkling in the solar rays,
To the rosebud's beauty, pays Tribute duly,
Tribute duly
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O now truly!

I loved thee, when in early youth
Lovely ever
Virtuous pride and honest truth
Ne'er could sever,
And thy heart was pure and bright
As the early morning's light,
Sinning never,
Sinning never
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!

Once I loved thee, Mary dear
Still, God bless thee!
May ever blissful prospects cheer
And joy caress thee;
Though I drain my cups apart,
May, liek mine, a saddened heart
Ne'ever distress thee
Ne'ever distress thee
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!

Youth will fleet, and age will come,
Slowly, slowly;
Death will beat its muffled drum,
Lowly, lowly;
May the passing moments roll
Bliss eternal to thy soul,
Holy, holy,
Holy, holy,
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear,
Oh how truly!

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Ring, Ring de Banjo!

De time is nebber dreary
If de darkey nebber groans;
De ladies nebber weary
Wid de rattle ob de bones;
Den ome again Susanna
By de gaslight ob de moon;
We'll tum de old Piano
When de banjo's out ob tune.

chorus:
Ring, ring de banjo!
I like dat good old song,
Come again my true lub,
Oh! whar you been so long.

Oh! nebber count de bubbles
While der's water in de spring;
De darkey hab no troubles
While he's got dis song to sing.
De beauties ob creation
Will nebber lose der harm
While I roam de old plantation
Wid my true lub on my arm.

Once I was so lucky,
My massa set me free,
I went to old Kentucky
To see what I ould see;
I could not go no farder,
I turn to massa's door,
I lub him all de harder,
I'll go away no more.

Early in de morning
Ob a lubly summer day,
My massa send me warning
He'd like to hear me play.
On de banjo tapping,
I come wid dulem strain;
Massa fall a napping
He'll nebber wake again.

My lub, I'll hab to leabe you
While de ribber's running high;
But I nebber can deceibe you
So dont you wipe your eye.
I's guine to make some money;
But I'll come anodder day
I'll come again my honey,
If I hab to work my way.

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Oh! Boys Carry Me 'Long

Oh! carry me 'long;
Der's no more trouble for me:
I's guine to roam
In a happy home
Where all de niggas am free.
I've worked long in de fields;
I've handled many a hoe:
I'll turn my eye,
Before I die,
And see de sugarcane grow.

chorus:
Oh! boys, carry me 'long;
Carry me till I die
Carry me down
To de buryin' groun'
Massa, don't you cry.

All ober de land
I've wandered many a day,
To blow de horn
And mind de corn
And keep de possum away.
No use for me now
So darkeys burn me low:
My horn is dry,
And I must lie
Whar de possum nebber can go.

Farewell to de boys
Wid hearts so happy and light,
De sing a song
De whole day long,
And dance de juba at night.
Farewell to de fields
Ob cotton, 'bacco, and all:
I's guine to hoe
In a bressed row
Wha de corn grows mellow and tall.

Farewell to de hills,
De meadows covered wid green,
Old brindle Boss
And de old grey hoss
All beaten, broken, and lean.
Farewell to de dog
Dat always followed me round;
Old Sancho'll wail
And droop his tail
When I am under de ground.

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I Would Not Die in Summer Time

I would not die in Summer time
When hearts are light and free,
And joy is borne from every clime
O'er mountain, stream and lea.
I would not leave the friends I know,
Beguiled of hope and cheer,
To lose in burning tears of woe
The glad time of the year.

Oh! no, I would not pass away
When from the  leafy grove,
The red bird carols all the day
Its song of joy and love;
When merry warblers trill their notes
From every bush and tree,
And on the breeze, an anthem floats
Of heaven-born melody.

I would not die in Summertime,
And lie within the tomb,
When blushing fruits are in their prime,
And fields are in their bloom;
For I would reap the yellow grain
And bind it in the sheeves;
Then die when Autumn winds complain
Among the blighted leaves.

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My Hopes Have Departed Forever

My hopes have departed forever,
My vision of true love is o'er;
My heart shall awaken, ah! never;
There's joy for my bosom no more.
The roses that crowned me are blighted,
The garland I cherished is dead,
The faith once confidingly plighted
Is broke, and my loved one has fled.
The faith once confidingly plighted
Is broke, and my loved one has fled.

They saw that my life was decaying,
They knew that my stay would be brief;
And still, though my spirit was straying,
I told not a word of my grief
No whisper revealed my deceiver
No ear heard me sigh or complain;
My heart still adored  still adored its bereaver
And longed but to meet him again.

He came, but another had rifled
His heart of the love once my own,
I grieved, but my anguish was stifled,
And shrank from his cold formal tone.
The is now sinking in billows,
That roll in the far distant west,
But morning will shine through the willows,
And find me forever at rest.

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Laura Lee

Why has thy merry face
Gone from my side,
Leaving each cherished place
Cheerless and void?
Why has the happy dream,
Blended with thee,
Passed like a flitting beam,
Sweet Laura Lee?
Why has the happy dream,
Blended with thee,
Passed like a flitting beam,
Sweet Laura Lee?

Far from all pleasure torn,
Sad and alone,
How doth my spirit mourn
While thou art gone!
How like a desert isle
Earth seems to me,
Robbed of thy sunny smile,
Sweet Laura Lee!
How like a desert isle
Earth seems to me,
Robbed of thy sunny smile,
Sweet Laura Lee!

When will thy winning voice
Breathe on mine ear?
When will my heart rejoice,
Finding thee near?
When will we roam the plain
Joyous and free,
Never to part again,
Sweet Laura Lee?
When will we roam the plain
Joyous and free,
Never to part again,
Sweet Laura Lee?

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Ah! My Child! (Ah mon fils)

Ah! my child!
Ah! my child!
For thy poor mother
Didst thou then smother
All thy sweet dreams,
all thy sweet dreams of Bertha's love?
Ah! my child!
Ah! my child!
Thou hast, alas! cast away,
for thy mother,
e'en more than life,
all the hopes that had warmed thy young heart.
Ah! my child!
Ah my child
May gracious heaven,
may gracious heaven receive my suppliation!
Angels attend thee,
Spirit defend thee,
My child ever blessed ever blessed be thou!
every blessed in heaven,
blessed in heaven,
My child! My child!
Heavenly blessings be on thee!
Heavenly beneditions rest on thee, my child!
Blessings on thee!

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Old Folks at Home

Way down upond de Swanee ribber,
Far, far away,
Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,
Dere's wha de old folks stay.
All up and down de whole creation,
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for de old plantation,
And for de old folks at home.

chorus:
All de world am sad and dreary,
Ebry where I roam,
Oh! darkeys how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home.

All round de little farm I wandered
When I was young,
Den many happy days I squandered,
Many de songs I sung.
When I was playing wid my brudder
Happy was I
Oh! take me to my kind old mudder,
Dere let me live and die.

One little hut among de bushes,
One dat I love,
Still sadly to my mem'ry rushes,
No matter where I rove
When will I see de bees a humming
All round de comb?
When will I hear de banjo tumming
Down in my good old home?

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Old Folks at Home Variations
[instrumental]

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In The Eye Abides the Heart

In the eye abides heart.
Every pure and tender feeling,
All emotions worth revealing,
Through the eyes their charm impart.
Words are often clothed in guile;
For the lips with fear may falter;
E'en confiding smiles may alter
Oh! believe not in a smile!
'Tis the eye unveils the heart.
Every pure and tender feeling,
All emotions worth revealing,
To the eyes their glow impart.

If thy bosom heaves a sigh
For a fair and cherished maiden,
Though her voice with love be laden,
Mark the language of her eye
There each impulse of her soul
Beams for thee in truth and ardor;
There her secret passions wander,
There remain beyond control.
'Tis the eye unveils the heart.
Every pure and tender feeling,
All emotions worth revealing,
To the eyes their glow impart.

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Willie My Brave

On the lonely seabeat shore
A maiden fair was weeping,
Calling one who far away
Beneath the wave was sleeping.
Thus her sad unchanging strain
Floated ever on the main
Come o'er the billow,
Ride the wave,
Come while the wind bloweth,
Willie my brave!

He said his bark would soon return,
And with a kiss they parted;
But when a year had passed away,
She then grew weary hearted
Oh! 'twas sad, from day to day,
To hear the maiden's plaintive lay
Come o'er the billow,
Ride on the wave,
Come  while the wind bloweth,
Willie my brave!

None who knew the maiden's grief,
And saw her heart's devotion
Would tell her of the fragile bark
That sank beneath the ocean;
But when all hope had passed away,
Her life breathed forth its parting lay
Come o'er the billow,
Ride on the wave,
Come while the wind bloweth,
Willie my brave!

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Eulalie

Blue-birds, linger her awhile,
O'er this sacred grassy pile,
Sing your sweetest songs to me
'Tis the grave of Eulalie.
Roses white, around her tomb
Gently wave and sweetly bloom,
Let your silent language be
"We will bloom for Eulalie."
Let your silent language be
"We will bloom for Eulalie."

Streamlet, chanting at her feet
Mournful music, sad and sweet,
Wake her not she dreams of me
'Neath the yew tree, Eulalie!
Eulalie, but yester-night,
Came a spirit veiled in white;
I knew it could be none but thee,
Bride of Death, lost Eulalie.
I knew it could be none but thee,
Bride of Death, lost Eulalie.

Angels, guard her with your wings,
Shield her from unholy things,
Bid her dream love-dreams of me,
Till I come, sleep, Eulalie!
Blue-birds, linger here awhile,
O'er this sacred grassy pile,
Sing your sweetest songs to me
'Tis the grave of Eulalie.
Sing your sweetest songs to me
'Tis the grave of Eulalie.

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Farewell My Lilly Dear

Lilly dear, it grieves me
The tale I have to tell;
Old massa sends me roaming,
So Lilly, fare you well!
Oh! fare you well my true love,
Farewell old Tennessee,
Then let me weep for you love,
But do not weep for me.

chorus
Farewell forever to Old Tennessee;
Farewell my Lilly dear,
Don't weep for me.

I's guine to roam the wide world
In lands I've never hoed,
With nothing but my banjo
To cheer me on the road;
For when I'm said and weary
I'll make the banjo play,
To mind me of my true love
When I am far away.

I wake up in the morning,
And walk out on the farm;
Oh! Lilly am a darling
She take me by the arm,
We wander through the clover
Down by the river side,
I tell her that I love her
And she must be my bride.

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Massa's in de Cold cold Ground

Round de meadows am a ringing
De darkeys' mournful song,
While de mockingbird am singing,
Happy as de day am long.
Where de ivy am a reeping
O'er de grassy mount,
Dere old massa am a sleeping
Sleeping in de cold, old ground.

chorus:
Down in de cornfield
Hear dat mournful sound:
All de darkeys am a weeping
Massa's in de cold, cold ground.

When de autumn leaves were falling,
When de days were cold,
'Twas hard to hear old massa calling,
Cayse he was so weak and old.
Now de orange tree am blooming
On de sandy shore,
Now de summer days am coming,
Massa nebber calls no more.

Massa made de darkeys love him,
Cayse he was so kind,
Now dey sadly weep above him,
Mourning cayse he leave dem behind.
I cannot work before tomorrow,
Cayse de tear drop flow,
I try to drive away my sorrow
Pickin on the old banjo.

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The Hour for Thee and Me

When day breaks forth on the dewy lawn,
And all seems mirth and glee,
When birds their sweetest songs awake
Is the hour for thee and me
The hour for thee and me,
The hour for thee and me
When birds their sweetest songs awake
Is the hour for thee and me.

When perfumes from the closing flowers
Are wafter o'er the lea,
And vesper float upon the gale,
Is the hour for thee and me,
The hour for thee and me,
The hour for thee and me
When the vespers float upon the gale
Is the hour for thee and me.

When night be holds her starry realm
Reflected on the sea,
When moon beams dance upon the rille,
Is the hour for thee and me,
The hour for thee and me,
The hour for thee and me
When moonbeams dance upon the rill
Is the hour for thee and me.

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I Cannot Sing To Night

Kind lady, ask me not to sing
The joys of other days;
Chide not my muse, though she refuse
To bask in Memory's rays.
I would that all my youthful joys
Could vanish from my sight;
For ah! my heart is very sad:
I cannot sing tonight.
I cannot, I cannot, cannot sing tonight;
For ah! my heart is very sad:
I cannot sing tonight.

Sing last we met, ten thousand joys
Have faded from our view;
The magic of our youth has fled,
Our eyes have shed their dew
Since last we met, ten thousand griefs
On me have spent their might;
But ah! my heart is very sad:
I cannot sing tonight.
I cannot, &c.

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Maggie By My Side

The land of my home is flitting,
Flitting from my view;
A gale in the sails is sitting,
Toils the merry crew.
Here let my home be,
On the waters wide:
I roam with a proud heart;
Maggie's by my side;
My own love, Maggie dear,
Sitting by my side
Maggie dear, my own love,
Sitting by my side.

The wind howling o'er the billow
From the distant lea,
The storm raging 'round my pillow
Brings no care to me.
Roll on ye dark waves,
O'er the troubled tide:
I heed not your anger,
Maggie's by my side;
My own love, Maggie dear.
Sitting by my side;
Maggie dear, my own love,
Sitting by my side.

Storms can appal me never
While her brow is clear:
Fair weather lingers ever
Where her smiles appear
When sorrow's breakers
'Round my heart shall hide,
Still may I find her
Sitting by my side.
My own love &c.

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My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night!

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the darkies are gay,
The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright:
By'n by Hard Times comes a knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky Home, good night!

chorus:
Weep no more, my lady,
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For the old Kentucky Home,
For the old Kentucky Home, far away.

They hunt no more for the possum and the coon
On the meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door.
The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight:
The time has come when the darkies have to part,
Then my old Kentucky Home, good night!

The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the darkey may go:
A few more days, and the trouble all will end
In the field where the sugar canes grow.
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter 'twill never be light,
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky Home, good night!

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Old Folks Quadrilles
[instrumental]

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Annie My Own Love

There's a wound in my spirit,
No balm can e'er heal;
In my soul is a sorrow,
No voice can reveal.
And deeper the furrows
Will sink on my brow,
For Annie, my own love,
Is gone from me now,
For Annie, my own love,
Is gone from me now,

Like the moon to the twilight
She came to my heart,
And fondly she told me
We never should part;
By Death, unrelenting,
She's freed from her vow,
And Annie, my own love,
Is gone from me now,
For Annie, my own love,
Is gone from me now,

Like the night when the moonbeam
Is gone from the sky,
In the gloom of my sorrow
Heart-broken I lie:
Oh! seek not to soothe me,
To earth let me bow,
For Annie, my own love,
Is gone from me now.

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The Holiday Schottisch
[instrumental]

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Old Dog Tray

The morn of life is past,
And evening comes at last;
It brings me a dream of a once happy day,
Of merry forms I've seen
Upon the village green,
Sporting with my old dog Tray.

chorus:
Old dog Tray's ever faithful,
Grief cannot drive him away,
He's gentle, he is kind;
I'll never, never find
A better friend than old dog Tray.

The forms I call'd my own
Have vanished one by one,
The lov'd ones, the dear ones have all passed away,
Their happy smiles have flown,
Their gentle voices gone;
I've nothing left but old dog Tray.

When thoughts recall the past
His eyes are on me cast;
I know that the feels what my breaking heart would say:
Although he cannot speak
I'll vainly, vainly seek
A better friend than old dog Tray.

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Old Memories

Fondly old memories
Recall round my heart
Scenes of my early joys
That never depart.
Warmed in their sunny rays,
Hopes brightly burn:
Say not those happy days
Can never return!
Say not those happy days
Can never return!
Say not those happy days
Can never return!

Voices of tenderness
And eyes ever bright,
Warm and true hearted friends
May lend their delight;
But still for departed smiles
The sad heart will year:
Say not those happy days
Can never return!
Say not those happy days
Can never return!
Say not those happy days
Can never return!

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Little Ella

Little Ella, fairest, dearest
Unto me and unto mine,
Earthly cherub coming nearest
To my dreams of forms divine:
Her brief absence frets and pains me,
Her bright presence solace brings,
Her spontaneous love restrains me
From a thousand selfish things.

Little Ella moveth lightly
Like a graceful fawn at play,
Like a brooklet running brightly
In the genial smile of May,
Like a breeze upon the meadows
All besprent with early flowers.
Like a bird mid sylvan shadows
In the golden summer hours.

Little Ella brings a blessing
With her bright and winning smile,
With her frank and fond caressing
And her prattle free from guile.
When I hear her footsteps bounding,
In the hall or through the grove,
And her voice with joy resounding,
Tis the music that I love.

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The Social Orchestra
[Instrumental]

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Ellen Bayne

Soft be thy slumbers,
Rude cares depart,
Visions in numbers
Cheer thy young heart.
Dream on while bright hours
And fond hopes remain,
Blooming like smiling blowers
For thee, Ellen Bayne.

chorus:
Gentle slumbers o'er thee glide,
Dreams of beauty round thee bide
While I linger by thy side,
Sweet Ellen Bayne.

Dream not in anguish,
Dream not in far;
Love shall not languish;
Fond ones are near.
Sleeping or waking,
In pleasure of pain
Warm hearts will beat for thee,
Sweet Ellen Bayne.

Scenes that have vanished
Smile on thee now,
Pleasures once banished
Play round thy brow,
Forms long departed
Greet thee again
Soothing they dreaming heart,
Sweet Ellen Bayne.

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Willie We Have Missed You

Oh!  Willie is it you, dear,
Safe, safe at home?
They did not tell me true, dear;
They said you would not come.
I heard you at the gate,
And it made my heart rejoice;
For I knew that welcome footstep
And that dear, familiar voice,
Making music on my ear
In the lonely midnight gloom:
Oh!  Willie, we have missed you;
Welcome, welcome home!

We've longed to see you nightly,
But this night of all;
The fire was blazing brightly
And lights were in the hall.
The little ones were up
Till 'twas ten o'clock and past,
Then their eyes began to twinkle,
And they've gone to sleep at last;
But they listened for your voice
Till they thought you'd never come;
Oh!  Willie, we have missed you;
Welcome, welcome home!

The days were sad without you,
The nights long and drear;
My dreams have been about you;
Oh! welcome, Willie dear!
Last night I wept and watched
By the moonlights cheerless ray,
Till I thought I heard your footstep,
The I wiped my tears away;
But my heart grew sad again
When I found you had not come;
Oh!  Willie, we have missed you;
Welcome, welcome home!

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Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair

I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air;
I see her tripping where the bright streams play,
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour.
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er:
Oh! I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

I long for Jeanie with the day dawn smile,
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile;
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by,
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die:
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Oh! I long for Jeanie, and my heart bows low,
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow.

I sigh for Jeanie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glad;
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown,
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone.
Now the nodding wild flowers may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them not more:
Oh! I sigh for Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

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Come With Thy Sweet Voice Again

Come with thy sweet voice again,
To my heart still dear,
Laden with soft, soothing pain,
Like a tear, like a tear.
Bright visions, long vanished,
Round they melodies beam:
Lulled in the lap of thy sighs,
Let me dream, let me dream.
Come again!  come with thy sweet voice again!
Come oh! come again!
Come with thy sweet voice again!

Bring not a language that tells
How the light hours roll:
Come with the music that wells
From they soul, from thy soul,
Come not with bright off'rings,
Cold, unhallowed and new:
Bring but thine own gentle heart,
Ever true, ever true.
Come again!  come with thy Sweet voice again!
Come oh! come again!
Come with thy sweet voice again!

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Hard Times Come Again No More

Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears
While we all sup sorrow with the poor:
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh!  Hard Times, come again no more.

chorus:
'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary;
Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh!  Hard Times, come again no more.

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay
There are frail forms fainting at the door:
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looking will say
Oh!  Hard Times come again no more.

There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day
Oh!  Hard Times, come again no more.

'Tis a sign that is wafted across the troubled wave,
'Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore,
'Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave
Oh!  Hard Times, come again no more.

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Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming

Come where my love lies dreaming,
Dreaming the happy hours away,
In visions bright redeeming
The fleeting joys of day;
Dreaming the happy hours,
Dreaming the happy hours away;

My own love is sweetly dreaming the happy hours away

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Some Folks

Some folks like to sigh,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Some folks long to die,
But that's not me nor you.

chorus:
Long live the merry merry heart
That laughs by night and day,
Like the Queen of Mirth,
No matter what some folks say.

Some folks fear to smile,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Others laugh through guile,
But that's not me nor you.

Some folks fret and scold,
Some folks do, some folks do;
They'll soon be dead and cold,
But that's not me nor you.

Some folks get gray hairs,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Brooding o'er their cares,
But that's not me nor you

Some folks toil and save,
Some folks do, some folks do;
To buy themselves a grave,
But that's not me nor you.

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The Village Maiden

The village bells are ringing
And merrily they chime;
The village choir is singing,
For 'tis a happy time;
The chapel walls are laden
With garlands rich and gay,
To greet the village maiden
Upon her wedding day.

But summer joys have faded
And summer hopes have flown;
Her brow with grief is shaded,
Her happy smiles are gone;
Yet why her heart is laden,
Not one, alas! can say,
Who saw the village maiden
Upon her wedding day.

The village bells are ringing,
But hark, how sad and slow;
The village choir is singing
A requiem soft and low;
And all with sorrow laden
Their tearful tribute pay
Who saw the village maiden
Upon her wedding day.

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Comrades fill no Glass for me

Oh! comrades, fill no glass for me
To drown my soul in liquid flame,
For if I drank, the toast should be
To blighted fortune, health and fame.
Yet, though I long to quell the strife,
That passion holds against my life,
Still, boon companions may ye be,
But comrades, fill no glass for me.
Still, boon companions may ye be,
But comrades, fill no glass for me.

I know a breast that once was light
Whose patient sufferings need my care,
I know a hearth that once was bright,
But drooping hopes have nestled there.
Then while the tears drops nightly steal
From wounded hearts that I should heal,
Though boon companions ye may be
Oh! comrades, fill no glass for me.

When I was young I felt the tide
Of aspiration undefiled.
But manhood's years have wronged the pride
My parents centered in their child.
Then, by a mother's sacred tear,
By all that memory should revere,
Though boon companions ye may be
Oh! comrades, fill no glass for me.

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Gentle Annie

Thou wilt come no more, gentle Annie,
Like a flower thy spirit did depart;
Thou are gone, alas! like the many
That have bloomed in the summer of my heart.

chorus:
Shall we never more behold thee;
Never hear thy winning voice again
When the Spring time comes, gentle Annie,
When the wild flowers are scattered o'er the plain?

We have roamed and loved mid the bowers
When thy downy cheeks were in their bloom;
Now I stand alone mid the flowers
While they mingle their perfumes o'er thy tomb.

Ah! the hours grow sad while I ponder
Near the silent spot where thou are laid,
And my heart bows down when I wander
By the streams and the meadows were we strayed.

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The White House Chair

Come all ye men of every state,
Our creed is broad and fair;
Buchanan is our candidate,
And we'll put him in the White House Chair.

chorus:
Then come ye men from ev'ry state,
Our creed is broad and fair;
Buchanan is our candidate,
And we'll put him in the White House Chair.

Let all our hearts for union be,
For the North and south are one;
They've worked together manfully,
And together they will still work on.

We'll have no dark designing band
To rule with secret sway;
We'll give to all a helping hand,
And be open as the light of day.

We'll not outlaw the land that holds
The bones of Washington;
Where Jackson fought and Marion bled,
And the battles of the brave were won.

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The Abolition Show

On the seventeenth day of September you know,
Took place in our city the great baby show;
They shut up the factories and let out the schools,
For the Seventeenth day was the day of all fools.

chorus:
Sing tu ral lala lu ral lal lu rall lal lay,
Sing tu ral lala lu ral lal lu rall lal lay,
Sing tu ral lala lu ral lal lu rall lal lay,
Sing tu ral lala lu ral lal lu rall lal lay,

They made a procession of wagons and boats,
Of raccoons and oxen (they all have their votes)
Sledge hammers, triangles and carpenter's tools,
One thousand and eight hundred horses and mules.

They had gemmen ob color join in their games
And jokers and clowns of all ages and names
They had pop guns and tin pans and all kinds of toys
And a very fine party of women and boys.

They had young men on horse back, so nice and so gay
Aged Seventeen years on this Seventeenth day,
And the ladies all thought they were bold cavaliers
These bright looking lads aged seventeen years.

They had grim border-ruffians, I'll bring to your mind,
And they've plenty more left of the very same kind,
They drank from a flask and played cards on the way,
And the children looked on, on this Seventeenth day.

They had Ohio Yankees of Western Reserve
Who live upon cheese, ginger cakes and preserve,
Abolition's their doctrine their rod and their staff,
And they'll fight for a sixpence an hour and a half.

Now was it not kind in these good simple clowns
To amuse all the children in both of our towns
To shut up their work shops and spend so much money
To black up their faces, get tight and be funny.

They called it a council of freemen you know
But I told you before 'twas a great baby show,
For when they had met they had nothing to say
But "Poor Bleeding Kansas" and "Ten Cents A Day".

Then their ship Constitution was hauled through the street
With sixteen small guns she was armed compleat
But the brave ship of State by which Democrats stand
Carries thirty-one guns with old Buck in command.

In the year '45 when the fire laid us waste
Old Buck gave us five hundred dollars in haste
They then took his money and lauded his name
But he's now "Ten cent Jimmy", their banners proclaim.

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I See Her Still In My Dreams

While the flow'rs bloom in gladness and spring bird rejoice
There's void in our household of one gentle voice.
The form of a loved one hath passed from the light,
But the sound of her footfall returns with the night;
For  I see her still in my dreams,
I see her still in my dreams,
Though her smiles have departed from the meadows and streams.
I see her still in my dreams,
I see her still in my dreams,
Though her smiles have departed form the meadows and the streams.

Though her voice once familiar hath gone from the day
And her smiles from the sunlight have faded away,
Though I wake to a scene now deserted and bleak,
In my visions I find the lost form that I seek;
For I see her still in my dreams,
I see her still in my dreams,
Though her smiles have departed from the meadows and streams.
I see her still in my dreams,
I see her still in my dreams,
Though her smiles have departed form the meadows and the streams.

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Lula is Gone

With a heart forsaken I wander
In silence, in grief and alone,
On a form departed I ponder,
For Lula, sweet Lula is gone.
Gone when the roses have faded,
Gone when the meadows are bare
To a land by orange blossoms shaded
Where summer ever lingers on the air.

chorus:
Lula, Lula, Lula is gone;
With summer birds her bright smiles
To sunny lands have flown.
When day breaketh gladly
My heart waketh sadly,
For Lula, Lula is gone.

Not a voice awakens the mountains,
No gladness returns with the dawn,
Not a smile is mirrored in the fountains,
For Lula, sweet Lula is gone.
Day is bereft of its pleasures,
Night of its beautiful dreams,
While the dirge of well remembered measure
Is murmured by the ripple on the streams.

When I view the chill blighted bowers
And roam o'er the snow covered plain
How I long for spring's budding flowers
To welcome her sweet smiles again.
Why does the earth seem forsaken?
Time will this sadness remove;
At her voice the meadows will awaken
To verdure, sweet melody and love.

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Linger in Blissful Repose

Linger in blissful repose,
Free from all sorrowing care love,
White round thee melody flows,
Wafted opinions of air love.
Let not thy visions depart,
Lured by the stars that are beaming,
Music will flow from my heart
While thy sweet spirit is dreaming.
Dreaming, dreaming, unfettered by the day,
In melody, in melody I'll breathe my soul away.

Softly the night winds are heard,
Sighing o'er mountain and dale, love,
Gently the vapors are stirred
Down in the shadowy vale love.
While o'er the dew covered plain,
Starlight in silence is gleaming,
Lightly I'll breathe a refrain
Round the young heart is dreaming.
Dreaming, dreaming, unfettered by the day,
In melody, in melody I'll breathe I'll breathe my soul away.

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Where Has Lula Gone

Little voices laughing free,
Laughing on the lawn,
Tell me can you answer me,
Where has Lula gone?
Where is that merry form
Ever on the move,
Glancing through calm and storm
Living beams of love?
Soft rays of mellow light
From her eyes were thrown,
And her smiles were summer bright,
Where has Lula gone?

She has left the sunny hills
In their blushing bloom
She has left the running rills
Blushing round her home,
Far in some distant land
She may yet be seen
Leading a fairy band
Like a fairy queen.
Far, far my longing heart
On her path has flown,
Yet no answer can impart;
Where has Lula gone?

Summer days have come and gone,
Starry nights have passed,
Many dreams of hope have flown
Since I saw her last
Roaming in rapture wild
On the mountain side,
Smiling when roses smile,
Sighing when they died.
Wild as the honey bee,
Gentle as the fawn,
Fairer than the dawn was she;
Where has Lula gone?

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My Loved One and My Own or Eva

Bloom bright fair flowers around the white stone
Where sleepeth my Eva, my loved one and my own,
Who departed in sadness and left me alone,
Sweet Eva, my loved one my own.

She was the idol of life's early day,
But, fearing the censure that worldling's might say,
Pride tore my weak heart from Eva away,
From Eva, sweet Eva away.

She died, it was better than living apart,
She died, and the sunlight went out from my heart
She died, and this cold world no you can impart,
From Eva, no joy can impart.

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Sadly to Mine Heart Appealing

Sadly to mine heart appealing,
Sadly, sadly well a day
Requiem like in murmurs stealing
Comes that old familiar lay
Wherefore not the wonted pleasure
From the antique music spring?
Why that well remembered measure
Grieving thoughts and anguish bring?
Sadly, sadly well a day,
Sadly sadly well a day,
Requiem like in murmurs stealing
Comes that old familiar lay.

Forms departed rise before me,
Smiles long vanish'd greet again,
Eyes forever seal'd beam o'er me,
Soothing once the sense of pain.
And with ev'ry thrilling number
Words of love gush on mine ear,
Voices sweet, that bound in slumber,
Hush'd have been for many a year.
Sadly, sadly well a day
Sadly, sadly well a day
Requiem like in murmurs stealing
Comes that old familiar lay.

Like the winds in autumn sighing
Through the trembling alder tree
Or far surges' echo dying
Soft and low those voices flee;
And as hues in twilight fading,
Swift those gentle forms decay;
Vainly, vainly,
Hope upbraiding,
Bids them pass not all away.
Sadly, sadly well a day
Sadly, sadly well a day
Requiem like in murmurs stealing
Comes that old familiar lay.

Ghost like thus they wane before me,
Quench'd their luster fled their bloom,
While pale mem'ry, tearful, o'er me
Flings the shadow of the tomb.
Sadly to mine heart appealing,
Sadly, sadly well a day,
Requiem like, in murmurs stealing,
Comes that old familiar lay.
Sadly, sadly well a day
Sadly, sadly well a day
Requiem like in murmurs stealing
Comes that old familiar lay.

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My Angel Boy I Cannot See Thee Die

My Angel boy, thou'rt nearing fast
The end of thy brief race;
Already death's dark wing hath cast
Its shadow o'er thy face.
Must thy ethereal spirit seek
So soon its native sky?
Still paler grows thy beauteous cheek
I cannot see thee die,
My angel boy, my angel boy,
I cannot see thee die.

Thou, only tie that binds my soul
To earth and bids me live,
Thou, only thought that comfort now,
Or future hope can give,
Thou, sole pride of my widowed heart,
Thou joyous beam to mine eye,
Ah! must thou from thy mother part?
I cannot see thee die,
My angel boy, my angel boy,
I cannot see they die.

I meekly bow before thy throne,
Oh! God, nor dare repine;
For thou hast but recalled thine own,
H is no longer mine.
Oh! If it be thy gracious will,
We soon shall meet on high,
For me there's hope, there's comfort still:
The spirit cannot die,
My angel boy, my angel boy,
Thy spirit cannot die.

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Linda Has Departed

Death with his cold hand,
Hath robbed me of ev'ry hope,
Hath robbed me of ev'ry hope
My loved one is gone,
Bleak was the moment,
That parted our beating hearts,
That parted our beating hearts,
And left me alone.
Sweet was the low voice,
That wrapt me in fond delight,
That wrapt me in fond delight
As fair visions do,
Soft were the dark eyes,
That languished in beauty bright,
That languished in beauty bright
How fondly and true!

chorus:
Linda has departed,
The warm and tender hearted,
Linda has departed
And left me here to mourn.

Blest were the hours passed,
With her whom my soul adored,
With her whom my soul adored
Whose heart was so light;
Sad is the lone hour,
Bereft of my darling one,
Bereft of my darling one,
In darkness and night
All now is cheerless,
My joys long have passed away,
My joys long have passed away
With loves fleeting years;
Hope has no comfort,
For sadness now holdeth sway,
For sadness now holdeth sway.
And leaves me in tears.

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Parthenia to Ingomar

Deal with me kindly,
Cheer my young heart,
I'll follow the blindly wherever thou art,
Deep in the mountain
Far from my home
I'll follow thy path wherever thou'lt roam.
Thy way shall still be mine
My heart shall still be thine
Deal with me kindly,
Cheer my young heart,
I'll follow thee blindly
And never depart.

Break not my spirit,
Think of my youth,
Cherish my tender heart,
Doubt not my truth;
Friends may desert thee,
Sorrows may come,
But still in this soul
Thine image will bloom.
Thy hopes with thee I'll share,
Thy wants shall be my care;
Deal with me kindly
Cheer my young heart,
I'll follow thee blindly,
And never depart.

Though through the desert wand'ring afar,
Still to me dearest one,
Thou'lt be my star;
Sunlight or moonlight
O'er us may shine,
Yet living on love,
I'll ever be thine.
Thy hand shall be my guard,
Thy voice shall be my word;
Deal with me kindly
Cheer my young heart,
I'll follow thee blindly,
And never depart.

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For Thee Love For Thee

I'll watch o'er thy dreams when thou'rt sleeping,
For thee, love for thee, love,
I'll weep o'er thy cares when thou'rt weeping,
For thee, only thee.
The wild lands of India,
The prairies, the sea
May lure me, but fondly,
I'll still turn to thee.
For thee, dearest thee
I would roam night and day,
And thy love, and thy love
Would cheer my lone way;
And they love, and thy love
Would cheer my lonely way.

I'll dwell on thy smiles when thou'rt waking,
For thee love, for thee love,
My heart would be faithful though breaking
For thee only thee.
In bowers where we've lingered
Each flowret and tree
Remains in my mem'ry
An emblem of thee
For thee, dearest thee
I would roam night and day
And thy love and thy love
Would cheer my lone way
And thy love and they love
Would cheer my lonely way.

The lark and the linnet seems singing,
For thee love, for thee love,
The bud into blossom seems springing
For thee only thee.
The bloom on the meadows
The rippling of streams
Recall but thy fair form
The queen of my dreams.
For thee, dearest thee
I would roam night and day
And thy love and thy love
Would cheer my lone way
And thy love and they love
Would cheer my lonely way.

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Fairy Belle

The pride of the village and the fairest in the dell
Is the queen of my song and her name is Fairy-Belle;
The sound of her light step may be head upon the hill
Like the fall of the snow-drop or the dripping of the rill,

chorus:
Fairy-Belle, gentle Fairy Belle,
The star of the night and the lily of the day,
Fairy Belle,
The queen of the dell,
Long may she revel on her bright sunny way.

She sings to the meadows and she carrols to the streams,
She laughs in the sunlight and smiles while in her dreams,
Her hair like the thistle-down is bourn upon the air,
And her heart like the humming-birds is free from ev'ry care.

Her soft notes of melody around me sweetly fall,
Her eye full of love is now beaming on my soul.
The sound of that gentle voice, the glance of that eye,
Surround me with rapture that no other heart could sigh.

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Thou Art the Queen of My Song

I long for thee; must I long and long in vain?
I sigh for thee; will thou come not back again?
Though cold forms surround us
To sever all that bound us,
Gentle queen of my song.
The fields and the fair flowers shall welcome thee,
And all to thy pleasures shall belong;
Pride of my early years,
Thou art the queen of my song.

The days are gone, days of summer bright and gay,
The days of love we so fondly whiled away;
But still while I'm dreaming
Thy smiles are o'er me beaming,
Gentle queen of my song
The wind o'er the lone meadow wails for thee,
The birds sing thy beauties all day long;
Prides of my early years,
Thou are the queen of my song.

I turn to thee; though our happy hours have flown?
I turn to thee; and my saddest thoughts are gone,
For love will be burning
And memory still returning,
Gentle queen of my song.
Come let thy warn heart rejoice with me,
Come from the bright and luring throng;
Pride of my early years,
Thou art the queen of my song.

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None Shall Weep a Tear For Me

My Life is like the summer rose
That opens to the morning sky,
But, e'er the shades of evening close,
Is scattered on the ground to die;
Yet on the rose's humble head
The sweetest dews of night are shed,
As if they wept the waste to see,
But none shall weep a tear for me,
But none shall weep a tear for me,
But none shall weep a tear for me.

My life is like the autumn leaf
That trembles in the moons pale ray;
Its hold is frail, its date is brief,
Tis restless soon to pass away;
Yet when that leaf shall fall and fade
The parent tree will mourn its shade
The winds bewail the leafless tree,
But none shall weep a tear for me,
But none shall weep a tear for me,
But none shall weep a tear for me.

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The Wife or He'll Come Home

He'll come home, he'll not forget me, for his word is always true.
He's gone to sup
The deadly cup,
And while the long night through,
He's gone to quaff,
And talk and laugh
To while the drear night through;
He'll come home, he'll not forget me, for his word is always true.

He'll come home with tears and pleading words and ask me to forget.
Can I be his
While he is mine
And cause him one regret?
My heart may break,
But for his sake
I'll do all I can do.
He'll come home, he'll not forget me, for his word is always true.

He'll come home with sorrow on his heart
That none but he can know
With pangs of thought,
How dearly bought!
And fears of coming woe;
He'll feel the cost of days now lost
That time can ne'er renew
He'll come home, he'll not forget me, for his word is always true.

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Poor Drooping Maiden

Poor drooping maiden sighing on a bright summer's day
Alone in sorrow all day long,
Thine eyes from light, thine ears from song;
Why are thy frail hands toiling the hours away?
Found in a dreary home,
Bound to a weary doom
Why are thy frail hands toiling the hours away!

chorus:
Poor drooping maiden sighing on a bright summer's day,
Poor drooping maiden sighing on a bright summer's day.

Poor drooping maiden sighing on a bright summer's day
The birds are out with songs and glee
And gladness lurks in bush and tree
Where is thy pure voice that once was so light and gay?
Come roam the laughing hills!
Come see the dancing rills!
Where is thy pure voice that once was so light and gay?

Poor drooping maiden sighing on a bright summer's day
The flowers are out upon the lea
And balmy winds are on the sea
Come let thy sad heart warm in the sun's king ray!
See how the reapers toil,
Gaily they've tilled the soil,
Come let thy sad heart warm in the suns kind ray!

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Cora Dean

Near the broad Atlantic waters
Roaming the woodlands green
'Mid Long Island's lovely daughters
Fairest of all was Cora Dean
Soft her voice as liquid measure
Heard when the streamlets move
While her eyes of tender azure
Glowed with the winning beams of love.

chorus:
Cora Dean has left the summer roses
Blooming o'er the lea
Cora Dean has left the summer roses
Blooming o'er the lea
While her fair and gentle form reposes
Down by the calm blue sea.
While her fair and gentle form reposes
Down by the calm blue sea.

Cora Dean was form for loving
Cheering the hearts of all
None could sigh where she was moving
Birds tuned their carols to her call
Fields grew fairer at her coming
Flowers a more joyful throng
Skies were bright where she was roaming
Streams danced the lighter to her song

Eyes bedimmed with tears are streaming
Round her deserted home
Silent stars are nightly beaming
Lending a sadness to the gloom
While the winds of summer dying
Borne from the deep dark wave
O'er the land in dirges sighing
Murmur with sorrow round her grave.

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Under the Willow She's Sleeping

Under the willow she's laid with care
(Sang a lone mother while weeping,)
Under the willow, with golden hair,
My little one's quietly sleeping.

chorus:
Fair, fair, and golden hair,
(Sang a long mother while weeping,)
Fair, fair, and golden hair,
Under the willow she's sleeping.

Under the willow no songs are heard,
Near where my darling lies dreaming;
Nought but the voice of some far off bird
Where life and its pleasures are beaming.

Under the willow by night and day
Sorrowing ever I ponder;
Free from its shadowy, gloomy ray
Ah! never again can she wander.

Under the willow I breathe a prayer
Longing to linger forever
Near to my angel with golden hair
In lands where there's sorrowing never.

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The Glendy Burk

De Glendy Burk is a mighty fast boat,
Wid a mighty fast captain too;
He sits up dah on de hurricane roof
And he keeps his eye on de crew.
I cant stay here, for dey work too hard;
I'm bound to leave dis town;
I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

chorus:
Ho! for Lou'siana!
I'm bound to leave dis town;
I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

De Glendy Burk has a funny old crew
And dey sing de boatman's song,
Dey burn de pitch and de pine knot too,
For to shove de boat along.


De smoke goes up and de ingine roars
And de wheel goes round and round,
So fair you well!  for I'll take a little ride
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

I'll work all night in de wind and storm,
I'll work all day in de rain,
Till I find myself on de levy dock
In New Orleans again.


Dey make me mow in de hay field here
And knock my head wid de flail,
I'll go wha dey work wid de sugar and de cane
And roll on de cotton bale.

My lady love is as pretty as a pink,
I'll meet her on de way
I'll take her back to de sunny old south
And dah I'll make her stay


So dont you fret my honey dear,
Oh! dont you fret Miss Brown
I'll take you back 'fore de middle of de week
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

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Jenny's Coming O'er the Green

Jenny's coming o'er the green,
Fairer form was never seen,
Winning is her gentle mien;
Why do I love her so?
We have wandered side by side
O'er the meadows far and wide;
Little Jenny's full of pride,
Why do I love her so?

Jenny's calm and liquid eyes
Sometimes bring a sweet surprise,
Like a change in summer skies;
Why do I love her so?
Oft her voice, so full of glee,
Wakes the saddest memory;
She is younger far than me,
Why do I love her so?

Little Jenny never fears,
Hoping all from coming years,
Dashing off the passing tears;
Why do I love her so?
Can I not another find
With her sweet endearing mind,
None with Jenny's charms combined?
Why do I love her so?

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Beautiful Child of Song

Come, I came longing to hear thee,
Beautiful child of song,
Come though the heart that are near thee,
Around thee devotedly throng,
Come, I am longing to hear thee,
Beautiful child of song,
Beautiful child of song,
I'm longing to hear thee carol they lay, sweet child of song.

Come, for the spell of a fairy
Dwells in thy magical voice,
And at they step light and airy,
E'en cold hearts enraptured rejoice.
Come, I am longing to hear thee,
Beautiful child of song,
Beautiful child of song,
I'm longing to hear thee carol they lay, sweet child of song.

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Old Black Joe

Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay,
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away,
Gone from the earth to a better land I know,
I hear their gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe."

chorus:
I'm coming, I'm coming, for my head is bending low:
I hear those gentle voices calling, "Old Black Joe."

Why do I weep when my heart should feel no pain
Why do I sigh that my friends come not again,
Grieving for forms
Now departed long a go?
I hear their gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe."

Where are the hearts once so happy and so free?
The children so dear that I held upon my knee,
Gone to the shore where my soul has longed to go.
I hear the gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe."

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Down Among the Cane-brakes

Once I could laugh and play,
When in life's early day,
Then I was far away
Down among the cane-brakes.

chorus:
Down among the cane-brakes on the Mississippi shore
Oh! those happy days, those happy days are o'er!
Oh! those happy days will come back no more!

Yes I was free from car;
All was bright summer there;
Dark days to me were fair
Down among the cane-brakes.

There lived my mother dear
(Gone from this world I fear)
There rang our voices clear
Down among the cane-brakes.

There lived a lonely one,
Who like the rest has gone,
She might have been my own
Down among the cane brakes.

Long years have glided by
Since then I breathed each sigh,
May I return to die
Down among the cane brakes.

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Virginia Belle

Fairer than the golden morning,
Gentle as the tongue can tell,
Was our little laughing darling,
Sweet Virginia Belle.

chorus:
Bright Virginia Belle!
Our dear Virginia Belle!
She bereft us
When she left us,
Sweet Virginia Belle!

How we used to roam together
O'er the mountain, through the dell,
In the smiles of springtime weather,
Sweet Virginia Belle!

She was lithe as any fairy,
Winning hearts with fairy spell,
Tripping with a footstep airy,
Sweet Virginia Belle!

While her life was in its morning
Came a sad and solemn knell,
She was taken without warning,
Sweet Virginia Belle!

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The Little Ballad Girl

Ho! little girl, so dressed with care!
With fairy slippers and golden hair!
What did I hear you calling so loud,
Down in that heartless, motley crowd?
Tis my father's song,
And he can't live long;
Every one knows that he wrote it;
For I've been down at the hotel door,
And all the gentlemen bought it.

Ho!  Little girl, let me light my cigar!
Where are you going tonight so far?
What are you hiding under your arm?
If I burn a sheet, will it do any harm?
'Tis my father's song,
And he can't life long;
Every one knows that he wrote it,
For I've been down at the hotel door,
And all the gentlemen bought it.

Ho! little girl, what makes you cry?
Come, dry up the tears in that bright blue eye!
What's all this that is blowing around,
All cold and scattered strewn on the ground.
'Tis my father's song,
And he can't live long;
Every one knows that he wrote it,
For I've been down at the hotel door,
And all the gentlemen bought it.

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Mine is the Mourning Heart

Thou hast roam'd under summer skies whilst I have weathered the storm,
I have pray'd that the angels fair would shield thy pillow from harm.
But thou wert gone and none this soul from sadness could awaken.
Mine is the mourning heart!
Mine is the mourning heart!
By thee, by thee forsaken.

Thou hast whisper'd in words of love to other ears than mine,
I have yielded to others charms but worship'd only thine.
But ah! dost thou remember, love, those sacred vows we've taken.
Mine is the mourning heart!
Mine is the mourning heart!
By thee, by thee forsaken.

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Don't Bet Your Money On De Shanghai

De Shanghai chicken, when you put him in de pit,
He'll eat a loaf of bread up, but he can't fight a bit
De Shanghai fiddle is a funny little thing
And ebry time you tune him up he goes ching ching.

chorus:
Oh! de Shanghai!
Don't bet your money on de Shanghai,
Take de little chicken in de middle ob de ring
But don't bet your money on de Shanghai.

I go to de fair for to see de funny fowls
De double headed pigion and de one eyed owls
De old lame goose wid no web between his toes
He kills himself a laughing when de Shanghai crows.

De Shanghai's tall but his appetite is small
He'll only swallow ebry thing that he can overhaul
Four bags of wheat just as certain as your born
A bushel of potatoes and a tub full of corn.

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Molly Dear Good Night

Molly dear, I cannot linger;
Let me soon begone.
Time now points with warning finger
T'wards the coming dawn.

When the noisy weary day
Shall have toiled its cares away,
to thy side again I'll stray;
Then Molly dear, good night!

Smile away the coming morrow
Till my sure return;
Why should fond hearts part in sorrow?
Grief too soon we learn.
Hours of bliss must come and go,
Constant pleasures none can know,
Joy must have its ebb and flow;
Then Molly dear, good night!

On they form, with beauty laden,
All my thoughts will be;
Purer love ne'er blessed a maiden
Than I hold for thee;
While thine eyes in beauty glance,
While thy smiles my should entrance,
Still the fleeting hours advance;
Then Molly dear, good night!

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Our Willie Dear Is Dying

Our Willie, dear, is dying, love,
And thou art far away;
His little breath is sighing, love,
And cannot last till day.
Tonight while sitting by his side
I heard him speak of thee
My father's coming home, he said, with presents bright for me;
My father's coming home, he said, with presents bright for me.
Come with an eagle's flight,
Come like a beam of light,
Come love, come home tonight;
Our Willie dear is dying.

His blooming cheeks have faded, love,
The light has left his brow;
His eyes are dim'd and shaded, love,
You would not know him now.
And when the fever rages,
With a sad and restless moan,
His feeble voice then warns us there is death within that tone;
His feeble voice then warns us there is death within that tone.
Come with an eagle's flight,
Come like a beam of light,
Come love, come home tonight;
Our Willie dear is dying.

No grief that e'er befell me, love,
Could cause this heart such pain;
Though neighbours kindly tell me, Love,
He may get well again.
But a mother's heart is watchful
All the life has left his eyes;
Oh come to night and weep with me before our darling dies
Oh come tonight and weep with me before our darling dies.
Come with an eagle's flight,
Come like a beam of light,
Come love, come home tonight;
Our Willie dear is dying.

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Lizzie Dies To-Night

'Twas hard, our parting, mother dear,
It gave you untold pain;
But hope was strong within our hearts
That we should meet again.
There's health upon my cheek once more,
And in my eye new light
'Twill all be quench in Ocean's gloom,
For Lizzie dies tonight!
Lizzie dies tonight, mother,
Lizzie dies tonight.

I've been so happy, mother dear,
When brightest summer smiled,
The friends who love me far away
Have guarded well your child;
They've brought me almost back again
To you and home's delight
But I will never see you more,
For Lizzie dies tonight!
Lizzie dies tonight, mother,
Lizzie dies tonight!

I'm thinking, mother, of the time
When little Willie died,
We laid him down with bursting hearts,
My father's tomb beside.
'Twas then you feared my tender form
Would vanish from the light,
But ah! my grave is 'neath the wave,
For Lizzie dies tonight!
Lizzie dies tonight, mother,
Lizzie dies tonight!

I know you're dreaming, mother dear,
Of all these dangers passed;
Perhaps you'll never know how hard
Death came to me at last.
I'm almost in your arms again,
God make your burden light!
I never more can cheer your heart,
For Lizzie dies tonight!
Lizzie dies tonight, mother,
Lizzie dies tonight!

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Our Bright Summer Days Are Gone

I remember the days of our youth and love,
When we sat neath the green oak tree;
When thy smiles were bright as the skies above,
And thy voice made music unto me.

chorus:
Never more will come those happy, happy hours,
Whiled away in life's young dawn;
Never more we'll roam through pleasure's sunny bowers,
For our bright, bright summer days are gone.

I remember the flowers that we cull'd by day,
And the vows that we made by night;
I remember the brook where we loved to stray
In the bygone days our delight.

How we joyed when we met, and grieved to part,
How we sighed when the night came on;
How I longed for thee in my dreaming heart,
Till the first fair coming of the dawn.

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I'll Be a Soldier

I'll be a soldier and march to the drum,
And lie in my tent when the night shadows come;
I'll be a soldier with knapsack and gun,
And stand to my post 'till the din of battle's done.

chorus:
Farewell!  my own lov'd Jenny dear,
Still will I dream of thee where ever I may stray;
Farewell! before the coming year,
I'll be a soldier far away.

I'll be a soldier and join in the fray,
With black shining belt and a jacket of grey;
I'll face up the battle as bold as a hawk,
As gay as a lark and as steady as I rock.

I'll be a soldier, "my country's" the cry,
I'll fly to defend her and conquer or die;
The land of my childhood my love and my tears,
The land of my birth and my early sunny years.

I'll be a soldier, and when we have won,
I'll come back to thee with my knapsack and gun,
I'll come with a true heart and kiss off each tear,
And linger beside thee forever Jenny dear.

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Why Have My Loved Ones Gone

Why have my loved ones gone,
Like the dew 'neath the early sun?
Why am I left alone,
While all their troubles here done?
My days of youth have passed away
And the shades of life are near,
But I still remain to mourn the happy days
When dear departed friends were here.

chorus:
Why have my lov'd ones gone,
Gone to return no more
Calmly gliding o'er a Summer sea
Whilst I'm left plodding on the shore?

Why have my lov'd ones gone,
From the joys and the pains of life?
Why do I still live on,
Alone to battle in the strife?
Alone to struggle in the fray,
Till my earthly cares are done;
While the young, the far have vanish'd from the day,
Before their sorrows had begun.

Why have my lov'd ones gone,
While the Springtime is on the breeze?
Gilding the hill side farm,
And breathing music thro the trees!
The birds are singing in the air,
And the flow'rs are in their bloom;
All things around are beautiful and fair,
But still my spirit lies in gloom.

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Oh! Tell Me of My Mother

Tell me, tell me, gentle lady,
Many things I'd love to know,
Of my dear and tender mother
Who departed long ago.
While she moved among the living
Were the days all bright and fair?
Did she dwell in happy sunlight
Or in dark clouds of care?
Was she beautiful like thee,
With thy voice of melody?
Did she love and cherish me?
Oh! tell me of my mother!
Gentle lady, let me know,
While she journeyed here below,
Was the world her friend or foe?
Oh!  Tell me of my mother!

Tell me, tell me, of my mother!
Is she roaming in the skies?
I've been dreaming all about her,
And awoke with tearful eyes:
She was bending o'er my pillow
In a deep and earnest prayer,
And her voice was like the breathing
Of the soft summer air.
Is the world so full of pain
That she will not come again,
Like a sunbeam on the rain?
Oh! tell me of my mother!
Does she know I'm here alone
While my early friends have gone
And my dearest memories flow?
Oh! tell me of my mother!

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Farewell Mother Dear

Farewell! mother dear, I go
Where loved ones never can be parted.
We will meet again I know;
Be not weeping and won hearted.
Last night I dreamed of thee
Saying pleasant things to me;
Still again those vigils keep
While I lay me gently down to sleep.
Oh!  Farewell, mother dear, I go
Where loved ones never can be parted.
We will meet again I know;
Be not weeping and down hearted.

Weep not mother dear for me
When I'm laid underneath the willow;
I'll keep guard upon thy soul;
Thou hast guarded o'er my pillow.
Far in a radiant land
I will join a sister band
They are singing a sweet refrain
I am called:  Farewell!  we meet again.
Oh!  Farewell, mother dear, I go
Where loved ones never can be parted.
We will meet again I know;
Be not weeping and downhearted.

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Sweet Little Maid of the Mountain

Roaming with thee I am happy and free,
Dreaming of thee fills my heart full of glee,
Longing for thee brings a sad memory,
Sweet little maid of the mountain.
Why do I grieve when I'm left alone?
Why do I sigh when thou art gone?
We will meet when the night comes on,
Sweet little maid of the mountain?

chorus:
We'll meet when the night comes one,
Down the glade on the leafy lawn,
We'll roam till the break of dawn,
Sweet little maid of the mountain.

Over the waters we'll gracefully glide,
I've got a bark that can weather the tide,
Out on the sea I will sit by thy side,
Sweet little maid of the mountain.
Meet me at eve in the shady glen,
There I will sing a gentle strain,
You must come to that soft refrain,
Sweet little maid of the mountain?

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Farewell Sweet Mother

Farewell sweet mother,
Weep not now for me,
Though my soul must wander hither,
Weep not mother now for me.
Soon with an angel band,
I will wander hand in hand,
To a fair and radiant land where
I will wait for thee
Farewell sweet mother,
Weep not, weep not now for me;
Though my soul must wander hither,
Weep not mother now for me.

Farewell sweet mother,
Every night I've dreamed of thee,
And thy voice was soft and gentle,
Saying pleasant things to me
While you these vigils keep,
Now I lay me down to sleep,
Mother tell me why you weep,
Oh! weep not now for me
Farewell sweet mother,
Weep not, weep not now for me;
Though my soul must wander hither,
Weep not mother now for me.

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Little Belle Blair

We have made a grave for little Belle Blair,
In the field beyond the town,
In the world she lived without a passing care,
And her brow was ever free from a frown.

chorus:
Happy as the live long day was she,
And flowing was her dark glossy hair,
We will hear no more her winning melody,
For we've parted with our little Belle Blair.

In the balmy spring we wandered side by side,
Through the hours of health and glee,
And our joys flowed on with ever gushing tide,
Like the bubbles of the wide blue sea.

In the bloom of youth and all her childish mirth,
In the May day of her life,
She has left the cares and busy broils of earth,
For a better world beyond all strife.

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Nell and I

We parted in the spring time of life,
Nell and I,
With all our gushing joys in their bloom,
But now we've met the world's busy strife,
Nell and I,
And suffered from its dark chilling gloom.
Yet my heart will sigh
For those days gone by,
That flow in my mem'ry's sweet refrain,
We parted in the spring time of life,
Nell and I,
And I'll never see her bright smiles again.

We made our little huts on the shore,
Nell and I,
And covered them with bright colored shells,
We gathered moss and fern from the moor,
Nell and I,
And pluck'd the dewy flowers from the dells.
But the days roll'd round
And the rude world frown'd,
As time with its bitter cares fled on,
We left our little huts on the shore,
Nell and I,
And we left our brightest hopes in their dawn.

We wandered by the bright running streams,
Nell and I,
And gamboled o'er the wide grassy lawn,
We met again in light sportive dreams,
Nell and I,
When the weary hours of twilight had flown.
And our hearts proved true
'Till a coldness grew,
'Twas caused by some unrelenting foe,
We'll roam upon the lawn never more,
Nell and I,
Nor wander where the bright rivers flow.

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A Penny for Your Thoughts

A penny for your thoughts!
For I know that you are dreaming:
Love's little, wicked darts are sporting with your brain;
A penny for your thoughts!
Thro' those eyes your heart is gleaming,
Longing to welcome back the starry night again.
O'er the meadows thro's the dew
You'll wander there with I know who,
Fair are her wavy locks as vapors on the hill/
A penny for your thoughts!
On thy lips a smile beaming,
You're sighing now for Jenny Dow, that lives beyond the mill.

A penny for your thoughts!
Do you think that you will love her
When all those burning dreaming have flitted from your heart?
A penny for your thoughts!
Will a halo beam above her,
When those delusive hopes and visions bright depart?
Will all blessings then as now,
Seem to linger round her brow,
Or will they vanish like the bubbles on the rill?
A penny for your thoughts!
For your heart's a cruel rover,
'Tis beating now for Jenny Dow, that lives beyond the mill.

A penny for your thoughts!
They are plain beyond concealing;
Who cannot read a sighing lover through and through?
A penny for your thoughts!
I have something worth revealing:
Fair maids though full of vows, are fickle and untrue;
Now throw those flattering hopes away,
Tomorrow's Jenny's wedding day
One with a winning voice has gained her yielding will!
A penny for your thoughts!
On your mind a change is stealing,
What think you now of Jenny Dow, that lives beyond the mill?

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A Thousand Miles from Home

Far form the childhood's scene, with weary steps I roam;
Laden with the weight of care, a thousand miles from home;
Old times return to me,
Days of pleasure nights of glee;
While I'm beyond the sea a thousand miles from home.
A thousand miles from home.
Oh! how the heart will droop, a thousand miles from home.

Where are those early hopes, that made my footsteps stray;
Faded while summer bowers, are blooming on my way;
Sweet song of birds I hear
Childhood's voices bright and clear;
All fail my soul to cheer a thousand miles from home.
A thousand miles from home.
Oh!  how the heart will droop, a thousand miles from home.

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Little Jenny Dow

Little Jenny Dow lives beyond the mill,
Her merry voice is heard all round;
Her happy smiles are seen on the green clad hill,
Where ere the budding flow'rs are found,
She greets the blushing morn like a dew drop bright,
And carols thro' the live long day;
She gladdens up my heart like a beam of light,
And drives my bitter cares away.

chorus:
Merrily, merrily, merrily,
Her winning little voice is ringing,
And the woodland birds are singing
To little Jenny Dow.

Many are the hearts that have sigh'd for her,
And many that have sigh'd in pain,
Many that I know would have died for her,
And alas they would have died in vain
Little Jenny Dow never clouds her brow
In sorrow o'er a love-lorn swain;
With spirits full of glee none so gay as she,
As she rambles o'er the hill and plain.

By the gushing streamlets her footsteps glide,
Leaving little prints in the sand;
You'll meet her in the dale or the woodland wide,
Giving life and joy to the land:
Ever may she roam with the same light heart,
Every many she sing with glee;
While the summer days can their beams impart,
And summer birds their melody.

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I Will Be True to Thee

I will be true to thee
Though I share in thy worst despair,
I will be true to thee,
Though my own heart be bowed with care,
Though cold neglect upon thy hopes may fall,
Though fears of death may hover near thy soul,
Though funeral knells upon thine ears may toll,
Yet I will be true to thee,
I will be true to thee,
I will be true to thee.

I will be true to thee,
Though I roam in a far off land,
Whether on earth or sea,
In a bower or desert strand,
Though darkest clouds may mar the morning beams,
And vapors dull may settle on the streams,
Though blighting Time destroy thy fondest dreams,
Yet I will be true to thee,
I will be true to thee,
I will be true to thee.

I will be true to thee;
I will pray for thee night and day;
Wilt thou be true to me,
As in years that have rolled away?
When all thy childhood's dearest hopes have fled
And gloomy visions linger round thy head,
When all thy dear and early friends are dead,
Yet I will be true to thee,
I will be true to thee,
I will be true to thee.

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The Merry Merry Month of May

We roamed the fields and river sides,
When we were young and gay;
We chased the bees and plucked the flowers,
In the merry, merry month of May.
Oh, yes, with ever changing sports,
We whiled away the hours away;
The skies were bright,
Our hearts were light,
In the merry, merry month of May.

Our voices echo'd through the glen,
With blithe and joyful ring;
We built our huts of mossy stones,
And we dabbled in the hillside spring.
Oh, yes, with ever changing sports,
We whiled away the hours away;
The skies were bright,
Our hearts were light,
In the merry, merry month of May.

We joyed to meet and griev'd to part,
We sigh'd when night came on;
We went to rest with longing heart,
For the come of the bright day dawn.
Oh, yes, with ever changing sports,
We whiled away the hours away;
The skies were bright,
Our hearts were light,
In the merry, merry month of May.

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A Dream of My Mother And My Home

My Mother and my home,
Ah! what pleasant words to me,
They light up my dropping heart wherever I may be,
And the joys of other days o'er my sense gently glide,
While lonely I struggle with the worlds busy tide,
While I rest from my toils at the close of day,
And bright happy visions around me play,
Recalling the loved voices far away,
I dream of my mother and my home.
My mother, my mother.
How old time memories will come, dream of my dear and gentle mother,
I dream of my mother and my home.

My mother and my home!
Ah! the happy days are gone,
When all their sweet blessings were around my pathway thrown,
But visions of bright days will still come back again
Renewing departed joys like some familiar strain,
I see many homes filled with mirth and glee,
But now in this wide world there's none for me;
But the hours brighter grow, and my heart beats free,
When I dream of my mother and my home.
My mother, my mother.
How old time memories will come, dream of my dear and gentle mother,
I dream of my mother and my home.

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That's What's the Matter

We live in hard and stirring times,
Too sad for mirth, too rough for rhymes;
For songs of peace have lost their chimes,
And that's what's the matter!
The men we held as brothers true,
Have turn's into a rebel crew;
So now we have to put them thro',
And that's what's the matter!

chorus:
That's what's the matter,
The rebels have to scatter;
We'll make them flee,
By land and sea,
And that's what's the matter!

Oh! yes, we thought our neighbors true,
Indulg'd them as their mothers do;
Thy storm'd our bright Red, White and Blue,
And that's what's the matter!
We'll never give up what we gain,
For now we know we must maintain
Our Laws and Rights with might and main;
And that's what's the matter!

The rebels thought we would divide,
And Democrats would take their side;
They then would let the Union slide,
And that's what's the matter!
But, when the war had once begun,
All party feeling soon was gone;
We join'd as brothers, ev'ry oneS!
And that's what's the matter!

The Merrimac, with heavy sway,
Had made our Fleet an easy prey
The Monitor got in the way,
And that's what's the matter!
So health to Captain Ericsson,
I cannot tell all he has done,
I'd never stop when once begun,
And that's what's the matter!

We've heard of Gen'ral Beauregard,
And thought he'd fight us long and hard;
But he has play'd out his last card,
And that's what's the matter!
So what's the use to fret and pout,
We soon will hear the people shout,
Secession dodge is all play'd out!
And that's what's the matter!

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Better Times Are Coming

There are voices of hope that are borne on the air,
And our land will be freed from its clouds of despair,
For brave and true men to battle have gone,
And good times, good times are coming on.

chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
Sound the news from the din of the battle booming,
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming.

Abra'm Lincoln has the army and the navy in his hands,
While Seward keeps our honor bright abroad in foreign lands;
And Stanton is a man, who is sturdy as a rock,
With brave men to back up and stand the battle's shock.

Now McClellan is a leader and we'll let him take the sway,
For a man in his position, he should surely have his way.
Our nation's honor'd Scott, he has trusted to his might,
Your faith in McClellan put for we are sure he's right.

Generals Lyon and Baker and Ellsworth now are gone,
But still we have some brave men to lead the soldiers on;
The noise of the battle will soon have died away,
And the darkness now upon us will be turn'd to happy day.

Generals Sigel and Halleck they have conquered in the West,
And Burnside, victorious, he rides the ocean's breast,
The traitors and the rebels will soon meet their doom;
Then peace and prosperity will dwell in every home.

Captain Foote is commander of the Mississippi fleet,
For his flag he strikes and makes the traitors beat a quick retreat;
With iron-clad gun-boats he makes the rebels run,
While Grant makes our colors wave and glitter in the sun.

General Fremont the path-finder never lags behind,
He is gone to the mountains, new pathways to find.
His voice is for freedom, and his sword is for the right,
Then hail! noble Fremont the nation's delight.

From the land of the Shamrock there's stuff that never yields,
For we've brave Colonel Corcoran, and gallant General Shields;
From Meagher soon we'll hear, for we know that he is true,
And stands for the honor of Red, White and Blue.

Here's health to Captain Ericsson, the Monitor and crew,
Who slowed the southern chivalry a thing they never knew;
The Merrimac has slayed as St. Patrick did the toads,
Till Worden with the Monitor came into Hampton roads.

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Slumber My Darling

Slumber my darling, thy mother is near
Guarding thy dreams from all terror and fear.
Sunlight has past and the twilight has gone,
Slumber my darling, the night's coming on.
Sweet visions attend thy sleep
Fondest, dearest to me,
While others their revels keep,
I will watch over thee.
Slumber my darling, the bards are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flowers are caressed,
Slumber my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm,
And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm.

Slumber my darling till morn's blushing ray
Brings to the world the glad tidings of day:
Fill the dark void with thy dreamy delight
Slumber, thy mother will guard thee tonight.
Thy pillow shall sacred be
From all outward alarms;
Thou, thou art the world to me
In thine innocent charms.
Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flowers are caressed;
Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm,
And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm.

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Merry Little Birds Are We

The summer's coming on,
And we warble in the tree,
The wint'ry blasts have gone,
Oh! what merry birds are we;
So now we chirp and sing,
For the sunlight makes us glad,
We've waited for the spring
Till our hearts were sick and sad.

chorus:
Merry little birds are we,
Twit, twit, twee.
Merry Little birds are we,


For the summer days are coming.

The daisy lifts its head
To the bright and cheering sky,
The snowy flakes have fled,
And the chilling winds gone by,
The roses soon will bloom
And the wild flowers deck the glen,
The butterflies will roam,


Oh! we'll all be happy then.

We greet the morning beams
With a welcome to the May,
We carol to the streams
When we wake at break of day;
The birds are on the bough,
And the verdure on the plain,
We'll all be happy now,
For the spring has come again.

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No One to Love

No one to love in this beautiful world,
Full of warm hearts and bright beaming eyes?
Where is the lone heart that nothing can find
That is lovely beneath the blue skies.
No one to love!
No one to love!
Why no one to love?

Dark is the soul that has nothing to dwell on!
How sad must its brightest hours prove!
Lonely the dull brooding spirit must be
That has no one to cherish and love.
No one to love!
No one to love!
Why no one to love?

Many a fair one that dwells on the earth
Who would greet you with kind words of cheer,
Many who gladly would join in your pleasures
Or share in your grief with a tear.
No one to love!
No one to love!
Why no one to love?
Why have you roamed in this beautiful world
That you're sighing of no one to love?

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No Home. No Home.

No home! no home on my weary way I seek,
When laden with grief and care,
No voice of love that one gentle world will speak,
No lips that will breathe for me a prayer;
I wander alone o'er the wide wide world,
In sorrow where e'er I roam,
But, ah! while through all its busy scenes I'm hurled,
I find for my drooping heart no home,
I find for my drooping heart no home,
No home for my heart, no home.

No home at night with its bright and cheerful hearth,
To soften the cares of day,
No smiles of joy and familiar sounds of mirth,
Beguiling my bitter hours away.
The mild skies may lend unto me their light,
And meadows around me bloom,
But through the long and the cheerless hours of night,
I find for my drooping heart no home,
I find for my drooping heart no home,
No home for my heart, no home.

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Was My Brother in the Battle?

Tell me, tell me weary soldier
From the rude and stirring wars,
Was my brother in the battle where you gained those noble scars?
He was ever brave and valiant, and I know he never fled,
Was his name among the wounded or numbered with the dead?
Was my brother in the battle when the tide of war ran high?
You would know him in a thousand by his dark and flashing eye.
Tell me, tell me weary soldier, will he never come again,
Did he suffer 'mid the wounded or die among the slain?

Was my brother in the battle when the noble Highland host
Were so wrongfully outnumbered on the Carolina coast;
Did he struggle for the Union 'mid the thunder and the rain,
Till he fell among the brave on a bleak Virginia plain?
Oh, I'm sure that he was dauntless and his courage ne'er would lag
While contending for the honor of our dear and cherished flag.
Tell me, tell me weary soldier, will he never come again,
Did he suffer 'mid the wounded or die among the slain?

Was my brother in the battle when the flag of Erin came
To the rescue of our banner and protection of our fame,
While the fleet from off the waters poured out terror and dismay
Till the bold and erring foe fell like leaves on Autumn day?
When the bugle called to battle and the cannon deeply roared,
Oh! I wish I could have seen him draw his sharp and glittering sword.
Tell me, tell me weary soldier, will he never come again,
Did he suffer 'mid the wounded or die among the slain?

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We Are Coming Father Abraam 300,000 More

We are coming Father Abraam, three hundred thousand more,
From Mississippi's winding stream and from New England's shore;
We leave our plows and workshops, our wives and children dear,
With hearts too full for utterance, with but a silent tear;
We dare not look behind us but steadfastly before,
We are coming, Father Abraam, three hundred thousand more.

chorus:
We are coming, coming our union to restore
We are coming Father Abraam, with three hundred thousand more.

If you look across the hilltops that meet the northern sky.
Long moving lines of rising dust your vision may descry;
And now the wind an instant, tears the cloudy veil aside,
And floats aloft our spangled flag in glory and in pride;
And bayonets in the sunlight beam, and bands brave music pour,
We are coming, Father Abraam, three hundred thousand more.

If you look all up our valleys, where the growing harvests shine,
You may see our sturdy farmer boys fast forming into line;
And children from their mothers knees are pulling at the weeds,
And learning how to reap and sow, against their country's needs;
And a farewell group stands weeping at every cottage door,
We are coming, Father Abraam, three hundred thousand more.

You have called us and we're coming, by Richmond's bloody tide,
To lay us down for freedom's sake, our brother's bones beside;
Or from foul treason's savage group to wrench the murd'rous blade,
And in the face of foreign foes its fragments to parade;
Six hundred thousand loyal men and true have gone before,
We are coming, Father Abraam, three hundred thousand more.

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I'll Be Home Tomorrow

I've wander'd far from those I love, and many years have pass'd,
Since in my dear old cherish'd home I saw their faces last;
But now I am returning and my journey soon will end,
I'll join the throng where happy smiles and gentle voices blend.

chorus:
Farewell, farewell! Ev'ry could of sorrow!
All my heart is fill'd with joy
For I'll be home tomorrow!

How dear the hearts that dwell within that sweet domestic realm!
I know that they have long'd for me as I have long'd for them;
The thought that I am near them, makes my lonely spirit yearn
To hear the burst of gladness that will welcome my return.

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Happy Hours at Home

I sit me down by my own fireside
When the winter nights come on,
And I calmly dream as the dim hours glide,
Of many pleasant scenes now gone;
Of our healthful plays in my schoolboy days,
That can never come again;
Of our summer joys and our Christmas toys,
And our rambles o'er the streamlet and plain.

chorus:
Happy hours at home!
Happy hours at home!
How the moments glide by the bright fireside,
In the happy hours at home.

I sit me down by my own fireside
Where the children sport in glee,
While the clear young voice of our household pride
Make melody that's dear to me.
And by every art that can charm the heart,
The allure my cares away,
To prepare my soul as the swift hours roll,
For the duties of the bright coming day.

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Gentle Lena Clare

I'm thinking of sweet Lena Clare,
With deep blue eyes and waving hair,
Her voice is soft, her face is fair
My gentle Lena Clare.

chorus:
Gentle Lena Clare
My dear lov'd Lena Clare
Her heart is light, her eyes are bright,
My gentle Lena Clare.

I love her careless winning ways,
I love her wild and bird-like lays,
I love the grass whereon she strays
My gentle Lena Clare.

Her home is in the shady glen,
When summer comes I'll seek again,
On mountain height and lowland plain;
My gentle Lena Clare.

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We've a Million in the Field

The flags are flying,
And brave men dying,
The din of the battle is revealed;
The Union's quaking,
The land is shaking
With the tramp of a million in the field.

chorus:
We've a million in the field,
A million in the field,
While our flag is slighted,
With hearted united,
We can bring a million more to the field.

We were peaceful hearted
In days departed,
While foes kept their blighting plans concealed,
But they now must weather
The storms they gather,
For thy must meet a million in the field.

Down in old Kentucky,
They're true and plucky;
They know that the Union is their shield.
And they'll do their duty,
In all its beauty,
When they find we've a million in the field.

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Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

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The Love I Bear to Thee

At midnight hour when all alone,
I often sit and think of thee,
And wish that like a star I shone,
With brightness in thy memory;
That while thy form lies calm in sleep,
From every care and sorrow free,
Thy guardian angel then would speak,
And tell the love I bear for thee,
The love I bear for thee.

I wander where we've often strayed,
In childhood's hours now passed and gone,
I view the scenes where we have played,
And mourn the joys forever flown;
And yet I know if thou wouldst seek,
To drive me from thy memory,
Thy guardian angel then would speak,
And tell the love I bear for thee,
The love I bear for thee.

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Bury Me in the Morning, Mother

Lay me down where the grass is green, mother,
Beneath the willow shade,
Where the murmuring winds will mourn, mother,
The wreck that death has made.

chorus:
Bury me in the morning,
And morn not at my loss,
For I'll join the beautiful army
That carried the Saviour's cross.

Never sorrow or sigh for me, mother,
Who fell in early years,
For I'll be in the pleasant land, mother,
that's free from grief and tears.

I have heard the songs of the blest, mother,
And death is drawing near,
So ferry me o'er the stream, mother,
That mortals dread and fear.

You must promise to come to me, mother,
When life and hope shall fade,
Fore there's room for you in the home, mother,
That's far from the greenwood shade.

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Little Ella's an Angel!

Little Ella's an angel in the skies,
Sing merrily sing.
Come brother and sister, dry your eyes,
Sing, merrily sing.

chorus:
Sing, merrily sing,
Let the chorus joyfully ring!
Little Ella's an angel in the skies,
Sing, merrily sing.

Never weep for the angel that free from tears:
Sing, merrily sing.
Never sigh for the blessed that have left all fears:
Sing, merrily sing.

She has gone while her spirit from sing was free:
Sing, merrily sing.
To a region of love and melody:
Sing, merrily sing.

Little Ella was truthful, good, and kind:
Sing, merrily sing.
Little Ella was blest in heart and mind:
Sing, merrily sing.

Little Ella has left us full of love:
Sing, merrily sing.
Let us follow her to the realms above:
Sing, merrily sing.

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Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me

What did our Lord and Savior say
When other wished to drive us away?

chorus:
Suffer little children to come unto me,
Of such is the kingdom of heav'n.

What did he say who from above
Came down to teach us kindness and love?

What were the words of him who bled,
Nailed to the cross with thorns on his head?

What did he say whose spirit shed
Hope to the living, life to the dead?

If on his mercy we rely,
What will his words be when we die?

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Willie's Gone to Heaven

Little Willie's gone to Heaven,
Praise the Lord!
All his sings have been forgiven,
Praise the Lord!

Joyful let your voices rise,
Do not come with tearful eyes,
Willie's dwelling in the skies,
Willie's gone to Heaven!

Little Willie murmured never,
Praise the Lord!
Willie's soul will live forever,
Praise the Lord!

In departing he was cheerful,
Praise the Lord!
He was hopeful, never fearful,
Praise the Lord!

All the light on him was broken,
Praise the Lord!
That from Christ was kindly spoken,
Praise the Lord!

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I'm Nothing But a Plain Old Soldier

I'm nothing but a plain old soldier,
An old revolutionary soldier,
But I've handled a gun
Where noble deeds were done,
For the name of my commander was George Washington.
My home and my country to me were dear,
And I fought for both when the foe came near,
But now I will meet with a slight or sneer,
For I'm nothing but a plain old soldier.
Nothing but a plain old soldier,
An old revolutionary soldier,
But I've handled a gun
Where noble deed were done,
For the name of my commander was General Washington.

The friends I have loved the best have departed,
The days of my early joys have gone,
And the voices once dear
And familiar to my ear,
Have faded from the scenes of the earth one by one
The tomb and the battle have laid them low,
And they roam no more where the bright streams flow,
I'm longing to join them and soon must go,
For I'm nothing but a plain old soldier.
Nothing but a plain old soldier,
An old revolutionary soldier,
But I've handled a gun
Where noble deed were done,
For the name of my commander was General Washington.

Again the battle song is resounding,
And who'll bring the trouble to an end?
The Union will pout, and Secession ever shout,
But none can tell us now which will yeild or bend.
You've had many Generals from over the land,
You've tried one by one and you're still at a stand,
But when I took the field we had one in command,
Yet I'm nothing but a plain old soldier.
Nothing but a plain old soldier,
An old revolutionary soldier,
But I've handled a gun
Where noble deed were done,
For the name of my commander was General Washington.

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I'd Be a Fairy

In the cheerful days of spring,
Day bright and airy,
Oft in mirthful glee I sing I'd rather be a fairy!
I'd be a fairy, to sport with wint'ry storms,
To fly on the winds, never fearful of alarms,
Coquetting 'mid birds and cheering melody:
I'd be a fairy sportive and free!

When the World with rudeness frowns,
Or fortune's contrary,
Far beyond earth's chilling bounds,
I'd be a fairy!
I'd be a fairy when mid summer breezes play,
And roaming in gladness to greet the dawn of day,
O'er meadows and stream above the land and sea:
I'd be a fairy joyous and free!

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Bring My Brother Back to Me

Bring My Brother Back to Me,
When this war is done,
Give us all the joys we shar'd
Ere it had begun
O bring my brother back to me,
Never more to stray,
This is all my earnest prayer,
Thro' the weary day.

chorus:
Bring him back! bring him back!
With his smiling healthful glee,
Bring him back! bring him back!
Bring my brother back to me.

All the house is loenly now,
And my voice no more,
In the pleasant summer eves
Greets him at the door.
Never more I hear his step
By the garden gate,
While I sit in anxious tears
Knowing not his fate.

Bring my brother back to me,
From the battle strife,
Thou who watchest o'er the good
Shield his precious life.
When this war has passed away,
Safe from all alarms
Bring my brother home again,
To my longing arms.

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Oh! There's No Such Girl As Mine

Oh! there's no such girl as mine,
In all this wide world round,
With her hair of gold so fine,
And her voice of silver sound,
Her eyes are as black as the sloe,
Her lips in a smile combine,
Her breath is as pure as the snow,
There's no such girl as mine.
Oh! there's no such girl as mine,
In all this wide world round,
With her hair of gold so fine,
And her voice of silver sound.

Oh her soul in sweetness flows,
She's gainer of all hearts,
There's a smile where'er she goes,
And a sigh when she departs,
She's love by rich and poor,
She is free from all dark design
She's welcome at every door,
There's no such girl as mine.
Oh! there's no such girl as mine,
In all this wide world round,
With her hair of gold so fine,
And her voice of silver sound.

She is light to the banquet ball,
She's balm to the couch of care,
When around us traoubles fall,
She calmly takes her share,
At home or when far away,
Her virtues ever shine,
Her heart is as open as day,
There's no such girl as mine,
Oh! there's no such girl as mine,
In all this wide world round,
With her hair of gold so fine,
And her voice of silver sound.

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The Beautiful Shore

There's a beautiful shore where the lov'd ones are gone
Mid the flow'rs decked in evergreen bloom
And we know they have crossed o'er the dark death wave,
And they dwell in that bright angel home;
They have fought the good fight, and the faith have kept,
And they join in the angel throng,
And the soft melting notes of the chorus above
In beauty is born along,
There's a beautiful shore where the loved ones are gone
A beautiful shore where the lov'd ones are gone.

Oh that beautiful shore where the lov'd ones are gone,
And the flow'rs and the evergreen trees,
We shall see when the death damp is on our brow,
And the breath faintly dies on the breeze;
We shall meet the loved ones who have gone before,
And have bloomed in the world of souls,
When our spirits shall pass to that bright, happy shore,
Our bodies, the tomb below.
There's a beautiful shore where the loved ones are gone
A beautiful shore where the lov'd ones are gone.

To that beautiful shore where the loved ones are gone,
To the flowers and the evergreen glade,
We shall one day pass, like the brave of yore
And bask in the beautiful shade.

We must bear the good part, must not shrink from toil,
Till the pilot shall bear us o'er
To the union of hearts in the land of the blest,
Where parting shall come no more.

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Oh! 'Tis Glorious!

When our earthly sun is setting,
And its glory fading fast;
When our life's long looked for evening
With its shadows comes at last

chorus:
Oh! 'tis glorious,
Oh! 'tis glorious,
To enter in the sweet refrain,
Oh! 'tis glorious,
Oh! tis glorious,
To know we'll meet again.

When the tear-drops fast are flowing,
And our hearts are torn with grief;
When for all our sorrows, vainly
We attempt to find relief.

When the cold sweat of the dying
Hangs in drops upon our face,
And a secret voice assures us
We have almost run our face.

When the friends we love are standing
Round our lonely, dying bed,
And we take our farewell parting
Ere the spark of life has fled.

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Tears Bring Thoughts of Heaven

Blame not those who weep and sigh
When to sadness given;
Kindly view the tearful eye
Tears bring tho'ts of Heaven.

When in death our friends depart,
When our hopes are riven;
Tears bring comfort to the heart
Tears bring thoughts of Heaven.

To the suffering child of earth
Unto madness driven,
Hallowed hours when tears have birth
Tears bring thoughts of Heaven.

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Leave Me With My Mother

Leave me with my mother for her voice is sweet,
Sweetest, sweetest melody
Leave me with my mother, for she clings to me,
Fondly, fondly clings to me!

Leave me with my mother, for I love her more,
Far more, far more than you know,
Leave me with my mother, for her heart is pure,
Purer, purer than snow.

Leave me with my mother, and her prayers of love,
Fervent, fervent prayers of love,
Leave me with my mother, she is heard above,
Kindly, kindly heard above.

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He Leadeth Me Beside Still Waters

"He leadeth me " Oh! blessed thought!
Oh! words with heavenly comforts fraught,
Whate'er I do,
Wheree'er I be,
Still 'tis God that leadeth me.

chorus:

He leadeth me! he leadeth me!
By his own hand he leadeth me!

Sometimes, 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes, where Eden's bowers bloom;
By waters still, o'er troubled sea
Still 'tis God that leadeth me!

Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the victory's won;
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since God, through Jordan, leadeth me.

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Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Father of love,
Father above,
Send down thy blessing upon each head,
Shield us from pride
While we here bide,
Give us this day our daily bread,
Give us this day our daily bread.

Humbly we pray,
Humbly we say,
Words that our Lord and Redeemer said.
Trustful and weak,
Humbly we speak,
Give us this day our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily bread.

Make us resigned,
Patient of mind.
While to the throne of thy grace we're led
Make us content
With what is sent,
Give us this day our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily bread.

Sinful are we,
Thoughtless of thee,
While 'round our footsteps thy care is shed
Though we forget,
Watch o'er us yet,
Give us this day our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily bread.

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Seek and Ye Shall Find

Who has our Redeemer heard,
Whose voice was good and kind?
Thus he spoke in holy word:
Seek and ye shall find.

chorus:
Ask and it shall be given,
Seek and ye shall find.

Every prayer is heard in heaven
That is breathed from a truthful mind.

Come with gentle, contrite heart,
And seek the Savior's grace,
Come, that when from earth we part,
We'll meet him face to face.

Every prayer is heard above,
That we sincerely feel.
Every sigh is received with love,
When we repenting kneel.

Life to all, our Lord has shown,
Then be to Hope resigned,
When around you, doubts are thrown
"Seek and ye shall find."

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We'll All Meet Our Savior

We'll all meet our Savior, if we keep his sacred word,
'Tis the promise of the Lord, the promise of the Lord,
We'll all meet our Savior, if we keep his sacred word,
'Tis the promise of the Lord.  Amen.

Then we'll live with the angels where no sin can ever come,
In a fair and happy home, a fair and happy home;
And we'll sing heavenly praises where no sin can ever come,
In a fair and happy home. Amen.

He has come from among us with a halo round him bright,
To a land of love and light, a land of love and light,
He has gone and he calls us with a halo round him bright

He is called our Redeemer for he suffered for us all,
That no penitent should fall, no penitent should fall;
He is called our Redeemer for he suffered for us all.
And we'll hearken to his call. Amen.

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We'll Still Keep Marching On

No matter what temptations
Assail us on our way.
We'll still keep traveling onward
Along the heav'nly way;
We'll practice good to others
While living here below,
And daily pray, to God each day,
As marching on we go.
We'll still keep marching on, marching on, marching on,
We'll still keep marching one, marching on to the end.

If enemies revile us,
We'll not revile again;
For Jesus' own example,
Once dwelt with sinful men;
He, patient, was, and lowly,
To friend as well as foe,
Then let us strive like him to live
As marching on we go!
We'll still keep marching on, marching on, marching on,
We'll still keep marching one, marching on to the end.

We'll study well the Bible
The holy word of God,
'Twill prove a lamp to guide us
Along the toilsome road,
We'll sing the songs of Zion
When in the valleys low
Bethlehem's star, will shine afar
As marching on we go!
We'll still keep marching on, marching on, marching on,
We'll still keep marching one, marching on to the end.

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The Angels Are Singing Unto Me

When my mother's hands are o'er me spread,
As I kneel, humbly praying by her knee;
When her gentle voice is round me shed,
Then the angels are singing unto me.

chorus:
Music from above!
Strains of joy and love,
When my soul is fill'd with melody,
Then the angels are singing unto me.

When I hear the silv'ry notes of love
From the birds gaily singing in the tree,
Then I feel that God still reigns above,
And the angels are singing unto me.

When the stars are in the placid sky,
And soft winds are roving on the lea,
Then I feel that God still dwells on high,
And the angels are singing unto me.

When I hear the laughing, gurgling stream,
Or the waves of the deep and plunging sea,
Then I'm lull'd into a pleasant dream,
And the angels are singing unto me.

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When the Bowl Goes Round

In the bosom dwells no sigh,
While the goblet's brimming high
All the world is filled with treasure
While the bowl goes round,
Darkling sorrows take their flight
In the wine's rich ruby light,
And the hours are winged with pleasures
While the bowl goes round.

chorus:
While the bowl goes round
While the bowl goes round
We'll all be jolly fellows
While the bowl goes round
We'll all be jolly fellows
While the bowl goes round.

Sweeter far the fair one smiles,
Dearer all her pleasing wiles
And the many joys she brings us
While the bowl goes round,
Gleefully the wine we sip
With her name upon each lip,
And no blighting sadness stings us
While the bowl goes round.

Who would shun the social board,
Fly the place where mirth is stored
And the jocund song is ringing
While the bowl goes round,
Here we join the merry band
Here we grasp the friendly hand,
Golden pleasures ever bringing
While the bowl goes round.

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Jenny June

Did you see dear Jenny June
When the meadows were in tune
With the birds among the bowers
In the sweet summertime
You would love her I am sure
For her heart is warm and pure
And as guileless as the flowers
In the sweet summertime.

chorus:
Did you see dear Jenny June
When the meadows were in tune
With the birds among the bowers
In the sweet summer time.

All the robins cease their song
As she gaily speeds along
Just to listen to her singing
In the sweet summertime
And her modest beaming eyes
Are the color of the skies
Many pleasant fancies bringing
In the sweet summertime.

With my darling Jenny June
When the meadows are in tune
How I love to go aroving
In the sweet summertime
While her presence seems to be
Like a ray of light to me
For she's ever fond and loving
In the sweet summertime.

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A Soldier in de Colored Brigade

Old Uncle Abram wants us,
And we're coming right along
I tell you what it is, we're gwine to muster might strong.
Then fare you well my honey dear! now don't you be afraid
I's bound to be a soldier in de colored brigade.

chorus:
A soldier! a soldier, in de darkey brigade!
I's bound to be a soldier in de colored brigade!

O! when we meet de enemy I 'spec we make 'em stare,
I tink he'll catch a tartar when he meets de woolly hair.
We'll fight while we are above and in greenbacks we'll be paid,
And soon I'll be a Colonel in de Colored Brigade
A colonel! A colonel in de darkey Brigade,
And soon I'll be a Colonel in de Colored Brigade!

Wid musket on my shoulder and wid banjo in my hand,
For Union, and de Constitution as it was I stand.
Now some folks tink de darkey for dis fighting was'nt made,
We'll show dem what's de matter in de Colored Brigade.
De matter! De matter in de darkey Brigade!

We'll show dem what's de matter in de colored brigade!

In days ob Gen'ral Washington we fought de British well,
Behind de bales wid "Hickory"I tink we made 'em yell.
I tell you we're de chickens dat can handle gun or spade,
And Greeley he'll go wid us in de Colored Brigade.
Go wid us! Go wid us in de darkey Brigade,
And Greeley he'll go wid us in de Colored Brigade!

Some say dey lub de darket and dey want him to be free,
I spec dey only fooling and dey better let him be.
For him dey'd brake dis Union which de're forefadders hab made,
Worth more dan twenty millions ob de Colored Brigade.
Dan millions! Dan millions of de darkey Brigade,
Worth more dan twenty millions ob de Colored Brigade!

Den cheer up now my honey dear I hear de trumpets play,
And gib me just a little buss before I go away.
I'll marry you when I come back so dont you be afraid,
We'll raise up picanninnies for de colored Brigade,
We'll raise up picanninnies for de colored brigade!

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There Are Plenty of Fish in The Sea

A lady tossed her curls
At all who came to woo;
She laughed to scorn the vows,
From hearts through false or true,
While merrily she sang;
And cared all day for naught,
There are plenty of fish in the sea,
As goo as ever were caught,
There are plenty of fish in the sea,
As good as ever were caught.

Upon their lightning wings
The merry years did glide,
A careless life she led.
And was not yet a bride;
Still as of old she sang
Though few to win her sought,
There are plenty of fish in the sea,
As good as ever were caught.

At length the lady grew
Exceedingly alarmed,
For beaux had grown quite shy
Her face no longer charmed.
And now she sadly sings
The lesson time has taught
There are plenty of fish in the sea,
But, oh, they're hard to be caught.

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When This Dreadful War is Ended

When this dreadful war is ended,
I will come again to you,
Tell me dearest ere we sever,
Tell me, tell me you'll be true.
Though to other scenes I wander,
Still your mem'ry pure and bright,
In my heart will ever linger,
Shining with undying light;
Do not weep love, sit beside me,
Whisper gentle words of cheer,
Be not mournful now my darling,
Let me kiss away each tear.

chorus:
How happy I will feel if I but know
That you'll contented be,
I'll never, never have one pang of woe,
While you are true to me.

On the gory field of battle
Your sweet voice will nerve my hand,
And when weary, sad or wounded
Your fair image near me stand.
In my visions, like some angel,
You will turn my grief to bliss;
On my pale and fevered forehead
I will often feel your kiss.
Our dear native land's in danger
And we'll calmly bide the time
Till this dreadful war is over,
And the bells of peace shall chime.

When this dreadful war is ended,
(Soon I hope the day will come,)
Love's own star will lead my footsteps
Safely back to you and home.
Oh! what joy again to meet you
When the threat'ning storm is past,
And the flag our foes have planted
Flies in shreds upon the blast
Farewell!  farewell! best and dearest,
Do not let your heart repine,
Though the sky may now look gloomy
Soon the sun will brightly shine.

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Lena Our Loved One is Gone

Lena, the pride of our home,
Gone from the earth
Oh! where does she roam?
Fond hearts still sigh o'er her tomb,
Lena, our loved one is gone.
Lena the gentle and fair
Happy by day and at night free from care,
Lena the gentle and fair
Happy by day and at night free from care,
Lena, with light waving hair,
Lena, our loved one is gone.

Lena, with young tender eyes,
Lending to earth the light of the skies
Lena's dear mem'ry ne'er dies,
Lena our loved one is gone.
Pure as the dew drop was she
Smiling on earth ever joyous and free,
Dear, dear to sad memory
Lena our loved one is gone.

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Katy Bell

Going down the shady dell
Where the honey suckles grow
I met lovely Katy Bell
With her dimpled cheeks aglow
Oh! the beauties of her face.
As she flitted by apace,
With a step of fairy grace,
My poor words can never tell.

chorus:
Katy Bell lives in the dell,
How I love her none can tell.

All the flowers in the dell
Seem'd to own her for their queen
Bright and peerless Katy Bell
Fairer flowr was never seen
How I loved the very ground,
Over which she'd lightly bound,
With her sunny ringlets crown'd,
I can never never tell.

Long I waited in the dell,
Where the honeysuckles grow,
Waited for sweet Katy Bell,
Till the sun was sinking low,
And before I left her side,
In the quiet eventide
I had won her for my bride,
Won my bonny Katy Bell.

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Larry's Good Bye

Brave Larry went up to his darling,
To bid her a speedy  good bye,
When bound where the cannon was snarling,
The fortunes of battle to try
Sweet Norah he said dont be weeping,
I soon will come back to your side
With all your fond love in my keeping;
And make you my beautiful bride Norah,
And make you my beautiful bride.

A thousand times Larry did kiss her,
Before he was willing to go,
For now he just felt how he'd miss her,
When fronting the ranks of the foe
My heart will be ever the same dear,
So Norah he whispered don't sigh
I soon will have money and fame dear;
And then a nice farm we will buy
Norah, And then a nice farm we will buy.

Fair Norah through teardrops was blushing
And spoke between sobbings and sighs,
As backward her glossy curls pushing
She timidly looked in his eyes.
Dear Larry, you say that you're going
To wed when you come from the war,
I'm afraid you'll be killed, there's no knowing
Now could we not marry before, Larry
Now could we not marry before?

Now Larry, how could he refuse her,
He saw that he might as well wed
For if he was killed he would lose her,
So unto fair Norah he said.
Mavourneen its truth you've been saying,
And where there's a will there's a way
I see there's no use in delaying,
I'll wed you this very same day, Norah!
I'll wed you this very same day.

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There Was a Time

There was a time, there was a time,
When I was young and free
And every day the village chime
Brought music sweet to me,
The memory of some olden song,
Some scene or flow'r or tree,
Still brings to mind the merry throng,
That sported there with me,
Still brings to mind  the merry throng,
That sported there with me.

There was a time, there was a time,
That told us we must part
And then the once loved village chime,
Fell sadly on my heart,
I bade farewell to the old grey tower,
And on the village green
No more at evening's peaceful hour,
My merry friends were seen
No more at evening's peaceful hour,
My merry friends were seen.

But once again, oh! once again,
Those joyous days appear,
Again the bells sound o'er the plain,
And good old friends are near.
Again I hear the merry song,
Beneath the old oak tree,
And see around the happy throng
That sported there with me.

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Willie Has Gone to War

The blue bird is singing his lay,
To all the sweet flow'rs of the dale,
The wild bee is roaming at play,
And soft is the sigh of the gale;
I stray by the brookside alone,
Where oft we have wander'd before,
And weep for my lov'd one, my own,
My Willie has gone to war!

chorus:
Willie has gone to war,
Willie, Willie my lov'd one my own;
Willie has gone to war,
Willie, Willie my lov'd one is gone.

'Twas here, where the lily bells grow,
I last saw his noble young face,
And now while he's gone to the foe,
Oh! dearly I love the old place;
The whispering waters repeat
The name that I love o'er and o'er,
And daisies that nod at my feet,
Say Willie has gone to war!

The leaves of the forest will fade,
The roses will wither and die,
But spring to our home in the glade
On fairy like pinions will fly;
And still I will hopefully wait
The day when these battles are o'er,
And pine like a bird for its mate,
Till Willie comes home from the war!

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Kissing In the Dark

Sitting in the cosy parlor
When the nights are long,
While the cricket 'neath the window
Sings his dainty song:
With the one we love beside us
And no eyes to mark,
Oh how gaily glide the hours
Kissing in the dark
Oh how gaily glide the hours
Kissing in the dark.

Softly then the vows we murmur
Fall upon the air,
Little hands in ours are folded,
Gently nestling there.
Not a sweeter note of music
Sings the morning lark,
Than is heard when lips are meeting
Kissing in the dark.
Than is heard when lips are meeting
Kissing in the dark.

Surely then we grow much bolder
For we know this well,
That we whisper 'neath the shadows
All love bids us tell.
Let us bless the golden hours
With no eyes to mark,
That we pass among the maidens
Kissing in the dark!
That we pass among the maidens
Kissing in the dark!

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For the Dear Old Flag I Die!

"For the dear old Flag I die,"
Said the wounded drummer boy;
"Mother, press your lips to mine;
O, they bring me peace and joy!
'Tis the last time on the earth
I shall ever see your face,
Mother, take me to your heart,
Let me die in your embrace.

chorus:
For the dear old Flag I die,
Mother, dry your weeping eye;
For the honor of our land
And the dear old Flag I die.

Do not mourn, my mother dear,
Every pang will soon be o'er;
For I hear the angel band
Calling from their starry shore;
Now I see their banners wave
In the light of perfect day,
Though 'tis hard to part with you,
Yet I would not wish to stay.

Farewell mother, Death's cold hand
Weights upon my spirit now,
And I feel his blighting breath
Fan my pallid cheek and brow.
Closer! closer! to your heart,
Let me feel that you are by,
While my sight is growing dim,
For the dear old Flag I die.

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The Soldier's Home

The weary soldier reaches home at pleasant eventide,
He fondly kisses those he loves, all gath'ring by his side.
His gentle wife is ling'ring near, his boy is on his knee,
Beguiling evening's tranquil joys, with childhood's prattling glee.

chorus:
How happy is the soldier to be once more at home!
But sorrow falls on those he loves when parting time has come.

Oh! joyful is the soldier's heart to be once more at home,
To meet his wife and children dear and cease awhile to roam,
What bliss beneath his cottage roof with Hope and Love and cheer,
To pass the happy moments by with all that life holds dear.

But hark! the drum; it loudly beats upon the ear of night,
It calls to arms! wake! comrade wake! and rally for the fight!
The soldier's joy is over now for 'mid the battle's roar;
'Mid clanging steel and hissing ball he sleeps forevermore.

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My Wife is a Most Knowing Woman

My wife is a most knowing woman,
She always is finding me out,
She never will hear explanations
But instantly puts me to rout,
There's no use to try and deceive her,
If out with my friends, night or day,
In the most inconceivable manner
She tells where I've been right away,
She says that I'm "mean" and "inhuman"
Oh! my wife is a most knowing woman.

She would have been hung up for witchcraft
If she had lived sooner, I know,
There's no hiding anything from her,
She knows what I do--where I go;
And if I come in after midnight
And say "I have been to the lodge,"
Oh, she says while she flies in a fury,
"Now don't think to play such a dodge!
It's all very fine, but wont do, man"
Oh, my wife is a most knowing woman.

Not often I got out to dinner
And come home a little "so so,"
I try to creep up through the hall-way,
As still as a mouse, on tip-toe,
She's sure to be waiting up for me
And then comes a nice little scene,
"What, you tell me you're sober, you wretch you,
Now don't think that I am so green!
My life is quite worn out with you, man,"
Oh, my wife is a most knowing woman!

She knows me much better than I do,
Her eyes are like those of a lynx,
Though how she discovers my secrets
Is a riddle would puzzle a sphynx,
On fair days, when we go out walking,
If ladies look at me askance,
In the most harmless way, I assure you,
My wife give me, oh! such a glance,
And says "all these insults you'll rue, man,"
Oh, my wife is a most knowing woman.

Yes, I must give all my friends up
If I would live happy and quiet;
One might as well be 'neath a tombstone
As live in confusion and riot.
This life we all know is a short one,
While some tongues are long, heaven knows,
And a miserable life is a husbands,
Who number his wife with his foes,
I'll stay at home now like a true man,
For my wife is a most knowing woman.

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Oh! Why Am I So Happy?

Oh! why am I so happy,
Why these feelings of delight?
And why does gladness cheer me?
Why every thing so bright?
'Tis my father's voice and brother's smile,
My sister's fond caress,
My mother's gentle pleading prayer,
Her little boy to bless.
Why, oh why am I so happy,
Why these feeling of delight?
Oh, why does gladness beam around?
Why everything so bright?

I see angels smiling
When at my father's side,
And glowing scenes of pleasure
Before my vision glide,
O, how pleasant too the quiet eve
I feel so full of joy
Whene'er he breathes the gentle prayer
To guide his little boy.
Why, oh why am I so happy,
Why these feeling of delight?
Oh, why does gladness beam around?
Why everything so bright?

Sometimes, when bending o'er me,
I've heard my mother sigh,
And then I've seen the tear-drop
Stand trembling in her eye
While she said she dreamed of future days
Of bliss without alloy,
And prayed that heaven would shower down
Rich blessings on her boy.
Why, oh why am I so happy,
Why these feeling of delight?
Oh, why does gladness beam around?
Why everything so bright?

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Onward and Upward!

Onward and upward our watchword shall be,
While we are laboring, Jesus, for thee
Never desponding for thou art our Guide,
Pleasantly leading us over life's tide.

chorus:
Onward and upward! onward and upward!
Ever our glorious watchword shall be;
Onward and upward! onward and upward!
While we are laboring, Jesus, for thee.

Calling thy children in flocks to thy fold,
Teach them thy kindness, more precious than gold,
Saviour, O, drive from the mind and the heart
Every dark shadow that sin can impart.

Watchful and earnest in all that we do,
We will be faithful and we will be true;
Kindness to others we ever will show,
Loving our enemies while here below.

Strengthen us, Lord, that we never grow weak;
Teach us thy heavenly pathway to seek;
Leading us on till our journey is past,
Taking us home to thy bosom at last.

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We Will Keep a Bright Lookout

We will keep a bright lookout,
That we do not go astray;
We will keep a bright lookout,
Night and day;
Tho' we are a youthful band,
We will work with heart and hand,
Till we gain the starry land,
Far away.

chorus:
We'll all be happy,
All be happy,
Happy in the land far away.

We will keep a bright lookout,
While upon the earth we stay,
We will keep a bright lookout
Night and day;
O! our hearts are stout and strong,
And we'll seek to conquer wrong,
Till we sing the victor's song,
Far away.

We will keep a bright lookout,
Jesus will our care repay;
We will keep a bright lookout
Night and day;
We will steadily push on
Till our labor here is done,
And the heavenly crown is won,
Far away.

We will keep a bright lookout,
And our Saviour's word obey,
We will keep a bright lookout,
Night and day.
If we strive to do our best,
God will take us to his breast,
And his peaceful home of rest,
Far away.

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The Song of All Songs

As you've walked through the town on a fine summer's day,
The subject I've got, you have seen, I dare say;
Upon fences and railings, where ever you go,
You'll see the penny ballads sticking up, in a row;
The titles to read you may stand for a while,
And some are so odd, they will cause you to smile;
I noted them down as I read them along,
And I've put them together to make up my song.

chorus:
Old songs! New songs!
Ev'ry kind of song,
I noted them down as I read them along.

There was "Abraham's Daughter" "Going out upon a spree,"
With "Old Uncle Snow" "In the Cottage by the Sea."
"If you foot is pretty, show it" "At Lanigan's Ball;"
And "Why did she leave him" "On the raging Canawl?"
There was "Bonnie Annie" with "A jockey hat and feather."
"I don't think much of you" "We were boys and girls together."
"Do they think of me at home?" "I'll be free and easy still"
"Give us now a good Commander" with "The Sword of Bunker-Hill."

"When this Cruel War is over," "No Irish need apply,"
"For, every thing is lovely, and the Goose hangs high."
"The Young Gal from New-Jersey," "Oh! wilt thou be my bride?"
And "Oft in the Still Night" "We'll all take a ride."
"Let me kiss him for his Mother," "He's a Gay Young Gambolier;"
"I'm going to fight mit Sigel" and "De bully Lager-bier."
"Hunkey Boy is Yankee Doodle," "When the Cannons loudly roar."
"We are coming, Father Abraham, six hundred thousand more!"

"In the days when I was hard up" with "My Mary Ann,"
"My Johnny was a Shoemaker," "Or Any Other Man!"
"The Captain with his whiskers" and "Annie of the Vale,"
Along with "Old Bob Ridley," "A riding on a Rail!"
"Rock me to sleep, Mother," "Going round the Horn,"
"I'm not myself at all," "I'm a Bachelor forelorn."
"Mother, is the Battle Over?" "What are men about?'
"How are you, Horace Greely?" "Does your Mother know you're out?"

"We won't go home till morning," with "The Bold Privateer"
"Annie Lisle" and "Zouave Johnny" "Riding in a Rail-road Kerr;"
"We are coming, Sister Mary," with "The Folks that put on airs."
"We Are marching along" with "The four and thirty stars."
"On the other side of Jordan" "Don't fly your kite too high!"
"Jenny's coming o'er the green." to "Root, Hog or die!"
"Our Union's Starry Banner," "The Flag of Washington,"
Shall float victorious o'er the land, from Maine to Oregon!

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The Pure, The Bright, The Beautiful

The pure, the bright, the beautiful,
That stirred our hearts in youth;
The longings after something lost;
The impulse to a wordless pray'r,
The dreams of love and truth;
Revivings of our better hopes;
The spirits yearning to cry;
These things can never die.

chorus:
The pure, the bright, the beautiful,
These things can never die.
The pure, the bright, the beautiful,
These things can never die.

The timid hand stretch forth to aid
A brother in his need,
The kindly word in grief's dark hour
That proves a friend indeed,
The plea for mercy, softly breathed,
When justice threatens high,
The sorrow of a contrite heart
These things can never die.

The cruel and bitter word,
That bounded as it fell;
The chilling want of sympathy,
We feel, but never tell.
The hard repulse that chills the heart
Whose hopes were bounding high,
In an unfading record kept
These things can never die.

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We'll Tune Our Hearts

We'll tune our hearts to harmony
I praise of Him who died,
That we might not be cast away;
Our Saviour and our guide.
Hi ways were full of gentleness,
His voice brought peace and love,
And if we keep his holy word,
We'll hear that voice above.

chorus:
We'll tune our hearts to harmony
In praise of Him who died,
That we might not be cast away;
Our Saviour and our guide.

He quietly received affronts,
As gently as a child,
And pitied those who could assault,
A soul so pure and mild.
And when He chided, 'twas in grief,
That we should sinful be;
Then raise our voices to the Lord
In grateful harmony.

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Tell Me of Angels, Mother

Tell me of the angels, mother,
And the radiant land
Where my gentle little brother
Joined their happy band;
Oh! I seem to hear their voices
When the night draws near,
And my gladdened soul rejoices
At their accents clear.

Tell em of the angels, mother,
When God bids us come
Shall we dwell with one another
In their starry home;
Shall we join the tuneful chorus
Far from all alarms,
With no gloomy shadows o'er us
In the Saviour's arms.

Tell em of the angels, mother,
Crowned with chaplets bright,
Singing hymns that sorrow smother
On their wings of light;
Oh! I long to see them, mother,
And I long to fly
To my dear departed brother
In the azure sky.

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What Shall the Harvest Be?

They are sowing their seed in the daylight fair;
They are sowing their seed in the noonday glare;
They are sowing their seed in the soft twilight;
They are sowing their seed in the solemn night;
What shall the harvest be,

chorus:
The harvest be,
The harvest be?

They are sowing their seed of the word and deed,
Which the careless know not, not the cold ones heed,
Of the tenderest word of the kindest deed
That have gladdened the heart in its greatest need.
Sweet shall the harvest be.

They are sowing the seed of each noble deed
With an untiring watch, and an earnest heed;
With an unceasing hand, o'er the earth they sow
And the meadows are ripening wear they go.
Rich will the harvest be.

Whether sowing in darkness or sowing in light,
Whether sowing in weakness or sowing in night,
Whether sowing in meekness or sowing in wrath,
In the broad work field or the shadowy path.
True will the harvest be.

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Don't Be Idle

Don't be idle little children
While there's so much work to do;
God has planted you a vineyard
And his laborers are few;
And with heart and mind and spirit
Labor for the Sunday School.
 

chorus:
Rise up early in the morning,
While the air is soft and cool,
Don't be idle, don't be idle,
Make these words your guiding rule;
Don't be idle, don't be idle,
Labor for the Sunday School.

God has given you a mission,
Little children, small and weak.
Sermons you can preach for Jesus
Though your tongues can scarcely speak;
"Love each other," fondly, dearly,
Learn by heart the golden rule,
Thus in heart and mind and spirit
Labor for the Sunday School.

Don't be idle! in the highways,
And the hedges, many roam,
Precious lambs without a shepherd,
Go and call the wanderers home;
Tell them of your heavenly Father,
How you love his gentle rule,
And in heart and mine and spirit
Labor for the Sunday School.

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Stand Up for the Truth

Stand up for the truth all your lifetime,
And never be tempted away;
Stand firm in your duty though others
May seek you to lead you astray;
Stand firm though companions around you,
Are yielding to error and sin;
Stand firm, and when this life is over;
A heavenly crown you will win.

chorus:
Stand up for the truth all your lifetime,
And never be tempted to sin;
Stand up for the truth all your lifetime,
A heavenly crown you will win.

Stand up for the truth without falter,
Though pathways of sin may look bright;
Yet sooner or later they'll plunge you
In misery "darkness and might."
Stand firm! tho' the tempter revile you,
Stand firm like the oak in the wood;
No matter what ills may beguile you,
Stand up for the true and the good.

Stand up for the truth! be in earnest;
Whatever you say or you do;
For this is the noblest of lessons,
The bible is teaching to you.
Stand firm, all your days, for hereafter,
Oh! sweet are the joys you will share:
Stand firm! and your Heavenly Father
Will keep you forever in his care.

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Over the River

On the banks,
On the banks beyond the stream
Where the fields are always green,
There's no night,
There's no night but an endless day;
There is where the angels stay.
There's no sorrow, pain, nor fear;
There's no parting farewell tear;
There's no cloud,
There's no cloud, no darkness there;
All is bright, and clear, and fair.

Fadeless flowers of beauty there
Trees of life with foliage rare,
Fruits the most inviting grow,
There is where I want to go.
Hark! I hear the angels sing;
Heavenly harpers, on the wing,
Throng the air, and bid me rise
To the music of the skies.

Soon from earth I'll soar away
To the realms of endless day;
Soon I'll join the ransomed throng,
And sing with them redemption's song
pearly gates stand open wide,
Just beyond death's chilling tide;
There my mansion bright I see;
There the angels wait for me.

Earthly homes, adieu, adieu!
Earthly friends, farewell to you!
Softly breathe your last good-bye!
Jesus calls me, let me die:
Hallelujah! Christ has come!
Hallelujah! I'm near home:
Friends and loved ones, weep no more
"Meet me on the other shore."

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While We Work For The Lord

All around is bright and fair
While we work for the Lord;
Joy and peace are ev'ry where
While we work for the Lord;
O'er the mountains and the vales,
Softly sigh the pleasant gales.
Breathing nature's hymns of gladness
While we work for the Lord.

chorus:
All around is bright and fair,
Joy and peace are every where;
Let our hearts be free from care
While we work for the Lord.

Every face with pleasure beams
While we work for the Lord;
Every heart with rapture teems
While we work for the Lord;
All the shades of sorrow fly,
Years will never dim the sky,
Light and gladness shine around us
While we work for the Lord.

Nearer seem those realms above
While we work for the Lord;
Dearer seems our Saviour's love
While we work for the Lord;
Let us raise a grateful voice,
And with earnest hearts rejoice,
For the happiness around us,
While we work for the Lord.

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Choral Harp

Murmur on, murmur on, all your melodies sweet,
As the south wind where roses and amaranths meet;
For the emerald home of an innocent dove,
With her breast throbbing bliss,
And her song singing love,

chorus:
Murmur on sweet harp, sweet harp,
Murmur on, sweet harp, sweet harp,
Murmur on, murmur on, sweet harp, sweet harp,
Murmur on sweet harp.

Murmur on, murmur on, with your soft Sabbath tone,
Wafting childhood's pure soul to the heavenly throne;
Where he waits who once whispered o'er life's troubled sea.
"Suffer dear little children to come unto me."

Murmur on, murmur on, all your sanctified Lore,
Wreathing harmonies over, "The Beautiful Shore,"
"Oh 'tis glorious" thus to be soothed by the hymn,
Singing bliss never fading, and stars never dim.

Murmur on, murmur on,
O thou harp of the Blest,
In our childhood's sweet choir on the dear day of rest;
Murmur on till we sweep thee with those Harps above
That the angels sweep ever for mercy and love.

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The Bright Hills of Glory

To the fair shores of Eden,
My soul longs to fly;
And to drink from the fountain
That never runs dry;
Where the angels are singing
The same precious story;
That ever resound through the bright hills of glory.

chorus:
O take me my Saviour,
To join the happy song,
In the bright hills of glory,
Where the angels belong, bright hills of glory
Where angles belong.

Oh! what visions of beauty
Will burst on my sight;
As I enter the mansions
Of heavenly delight;
How the loved ones will greet me
From life's troubled story,
And will welcome me home
To the bright hills of glory!

Pray tell me ye watchmen
Who stand at the gate
How long must I linger
In sorrow--and wait?
When I hear the sweet angels
Rehearsing the story,
And my spirit is longing
For the bright hills of glory!

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Dearer Than Life!

Sweet is the breath of the fair, dewy morn,
Sweet is the Spring when the Roses are born,
Dear is the light of the eyes that we love,
Dear is our welcome when homeward we rove;
Dearer, still dearer, in joy or in strife,
Dearer than all art thou, dearer than life!

Tell me you love me again and again!
Parted from thee, oh! the wearisome pain!
Morn has no beauty to equal thy face,
Spring has no lilies to equal thy grace!
Dear to me ever, in joy or in strife,
Dearer than all art thou, dearer than life!

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My Boy Is Coming From the War

"My boy is coming from the war,
He's coming home to me,"
"O! how I long to see his face,"
And hear his voice of glee.
Of all the days that ever dawned
This is the brightest day,
For sad and lonely was my heart
When Harry went away.

chorus:
My boys is coming from the war
He's coming home to me,
O! how I long to see his face,
And hear his voice of glee.

My boy is coming from the war,
I've waited for him long,
I miss the music of his laugh,
His light and happy song;
But now I'll clasp him in my arms
And ever by my side,
He'll linger while my life glides on
To quiet eventide.

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If You've Only Got a Moustache

Oh! all of you poor single men,
Don't ever give up in despair,
For there's always a chance while there's life
To capture the hearts of the fair,
No matter what may be your age,
You always may cut a fine dash,
You will suit all the girls to a hair
If you've only got a moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
If you've only got a moustache.

No matter for manners or style,
No matter for birth or for fame,
All these used to have something to do
With young ladies changing their name,
There's no reason now to despond,
Or go and do any thing rash,
For you'll do though you can't raise a cent,
If you'll only raise a moustache!
A moustache, a moustache,
If you'll only raise a moustache.

You head may be thick as a block,
And empty as any foot-ball,
Oh! your eyes may be green as the grass
You heart just as hard as a wall.
Yet take the advice that I give,
You'll soon gain affection and cash,
And will be all the rage with the girls,
If you'll only get a moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
If you'll only get a moustache.

I once was in sorrow and tears
Because I was jilted you know,
So right down to the river I ran
To quickly dispose of my woe,
A good friend he gave me advice
And timely prevented the splash,
Now at home I've a wife and ten heirs,
And all through a handsome moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
And all through a handsome moustache.

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Mr. & Mrs. Brown

Mrs. Brown
So Mister Brown you've come at last,
I'm sure it's after two.

Mr. Brown
Dear Mistress Brown, your clock is fast,
I know as well as you.

Mrs. Brown
Oh! Sir, its shameful so it is,
Don't come sir in my sight!

Mr. Brown
Now give me one good kiss to night,
You see that I'm all right.

Mrs. Brown
I cannot talk to you to night,
I see that you're not right.
Oh! Harry Brown! Oh! Harry Brown!
You're any thing but right!

Mr. Brown
Now give me one good kiss to night,
You see that I'm all right.
Oh! Mary Brown! O! Mary Brown!
You know that I'm all right.

She:
All right! you good for nothing you,
Have I not eyes to see?

He:
No Madam, what I say is true,
I'm only on a spree!

She:
Don't make me angry, Mr. Brown,
For if you do I'll cry!

He:
I shall not stay to see you frown,
So Mrs. Brown, goodbye.

He: I shall not stay to see you frown,


Both: So, Mrs. Brown, good bye.


She: I'll make you stay to see me frown,
You shall not say good bye


He: O! Mary Brown, O! Mary Brown,


Both: I'll have to say good bye


She: O! Harry Brown, O! Harry Brown,
You see you've made me cry

She furiously
Hard hearted man, I tell you what,
I must know where you've been;
I am not jealous, o! no! no!
But its a shame and sin!
Your bosom friend, young Jones, just left,
He calls here every night,
I'm sure if it were not for him
I'd surely die with friend.

She: I'm sure if it were not for him,


Both: I'd really die with fright.


He: What Ma'am, if it were not for him,
You say you'd die with fright!


He: O! Mary Brown, O! Mary Brown


Both: I'll call him out to fight!


She: O! Harry Brown, O! Harry Brown,
He far above your height.

He Indignantly
So, Mr. Jones was here, you say
While I have been away!
Now Madam you will drive me mad,
We part this very day.
You know it is my business ma'am
That keeps me at the store,
And if I could have sooner come (hic)
I'd been here (hic) long before.

He: You it is my business ma'am


Both: That keeps me at the store.


She: I know its not your business, sir
That keeps you at the store.


He: O! Mary Brown, O! Mary Brown,


Both: It's business at the store


She: O! Harry Brown, O! Harry Brown,
You've told me that before.

She coaxingly
There, dont be angry, husband, don't!
I'm sure I love you dear.
I was but joking when I said
That odious Jones was here.
But promise me, now wont you love,
That when the night has come
You'll never stay away so late,
And leave your wife at home.

She: Now promise me when night has come,


Both: You'll always stay at home.


He: I'll promise you when night has come
I'll always stay at home.


He: O! Mary Brown, O! Mary Brown,


Both: I'll always stay at home.


She: O! Harry Brown, O! Harry Brown,
Now wont you stay at home.

He Lovingly
You were but joking, dearest wife?
Now come and kiss me, do,
Jones is a bosom friend to me, (seriously)
But needn't be to you.
My little wife! my joy and life!
My gentle pretty elf,
If any one sits up with you
Hereafter, it's myself.

He: If any one sits up with you


Both: Hereafter, it's myself.


She: If anyone sits up with me.
O, let it be yourself.


He: O! Mary Brown, O! Mary Brown,


Both: Our quarrels they are o'er.


She: O! Harry Brown, O! Harry Brown,
We'll never quarrel more.

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Wilt Thou Be True?

Wilt thou be true, dearest, to me,
Though I may wander far off from thee?
O ver my heart no gloom will come,
If thou are faithful where e'er I roam,
Still in my dreams
Thy angel face
Smiling through tear drops
Fondly I'll trace
Thy voice will cheer
Life's journey through,
Wilt thou be true, love?
Wilt thou be true?

Wilt thou be true though fate shall bring
Tempests and sorrows, clouding our spring?
Life's roses fair,
Now gem our way,
Wilt thou be constant
Should these decay?
Hope's gentle star
Beaming so bright,
Though fondly trusted
May take its flight,
Should want and woe
Our steps pursue,
Wilt thou be true, love?
Wilt thou be true?

Wilt thou be true though lips of scorn,
Seek to revile me when I am gone?
Say, wilt thou weep,
When evening falls,
As busy mem'ry,
My form recalls?
Wilt thou be true?
Doubt swiftly flies
Whilst I am gazing
Into thine eyes,
Through tearful gleams
Through tender blue,
Sweetly they whisper
Thou wilt be true!

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When Old Friends Were Here

When old friends were here,
In days that are flown,
How fond were the hands
Which oft clasp'd my own,
The pathways of life
Were pleasures sunny hue,
And voices were near,
With tones warm and true.

chorus:
All are gone!
No loved one's near!
I weep for the happy days
When old friends were here,
When old friends were here,
Those gentle friends so dear!
I weep for the happy days
When old friends were here!

When old friends were here
We roamed o'er the hills,
We sang merry songs,
As free as the rills,
But Time on its wave
Has rudely bourne away
The fair dewy flowers
Of Life's early day.

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She Was All The World To Me

In the sad and mournful Autumn with the falling of the leaf,
Death, the reaper, claimed our loved one
As the husbandman the sheaf,
Cold and dark day we laid her
'Neath the sighing  cypress tree,
For though nothing to another,
She was all the world to me.
For tho' nothing to another,
She was all the world to me.

In the month of song and blossom,
In the month when tender flowers
Spring from earth's maternal bosom,
Waked to life by gentle shows
As I wandered close beside her
'Neath the spreading greenwood tree,
"Fair," I said, "and radiant maiden,
You are all the world to me."
"Fair," I said, "and radiant maiden,
You are all the world to me."

Then the rare and bright-eyed maiden
In the month of song and flowers,
Rose-lipped and beauty laden,
Curtained by the twilight hours,
Gave her hand into my keeping
'Neath the spreading green-wood tree,
"And," she said with eyelids drooping,
"You are all the world to me."
"And," she said with eyelids drooping,
"You are all the world to me."

But there hovered near a spirit
Darker than the bird of night,
And it touched her dropping eyelids,
Covered up her eyes of light,
Then with careful hands we laid her
'Neath the sighing cypress tree,
And my heart with her is buried
She was all the world to me.
And my heart with her is buried
She was all the world to me.

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Sitting By My Own Cabin Door

My time of life is waning fast
Upon this troubled shore,
But still I smile on days gone past,
While I'm sitting by my own cabin door;
The waves of trouble on the sea,
The whirlwinds on the moor,
Can bring no sorrow now to me,
For I'm sitting by my own cabin door.
Sitting by my own cabin door,
Sitting by my own cabin door.

Through varied scenes of care and strife,
I've roam'd the wide world o'er,
But now I calmly glide through life,
While I'm sitting by my own cabin door,
I feel as happy as a king,
And free as the birds that soar,
No wounds of battle round me ring,
While I'm sitting by my own cabin door.
Sitting by my own cabin door,
Sitting by my own cabin door.

I've had my hours of grief and mirth,
And felt the tear drops pour,
But nothing grieves me now on earth,
For I'm sitting by my own cabin door.
The blooming hopes of early days,
May come to me no more,
Yes memory sings me pleasant lays,
While I'm sitting by my own cabin door.
Sitting by my own cabin door,
Sitting by my own cabin door.

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Somebodies [sic]  Coming To See Me To Night

Somebody's coming to see me tonight;
Somebody's fair and his eyes they are bright,
Softly he speaks and his words they are dear;
Soon as the stars are out he will be here.

chorus:
Somebody's coming to see me tonight,
Somebody'll meet him with joy and delight.
 

Somebody's coming to see me tonight,
Somebody's presence is dear to my sight.
Somebody's cheeks are as red as the rose,
Somebody's sorry when somebody goes.

Somebody oftentimes gives me a kiss;
Somebody'll meet me enraptured with bliss,
Somebody says I'm the joys of his life
And soon I'm to be that somebody's wife.

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When Dear Friends Are Gone

Happy hearts may feel no gloom,
Though the night comes on;
But our brightest joys are clouded,
When dear friends are gone;
The fairest hopes may live,
And around the spirit play;
Though dark low'ring vapors throw,
A shadow o'er the day;
But our joys are quickly flown,
And the heart droops alone,
All our hopes are drap'd in sadness,
When dear friends are gone.

Let us turn from grief to mirth,
Brighter days will come;
We can make each other happy,
With sweet smiles at home;
This life is all a change,
Like a fickle April day;
'Tis sunshine then shower
Now we grieve and then we're gay
Yet our joys are quickly flown
And the heart droops alone
All our hopes are drap'd in sadness
When dear friends are gone.

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Give This to Mother

Take I pray thee this small locket,
Brother soldier ere I die;
Life is flick'ring in its socket,
And my spirit soon will fly;
I am dying, comrade dying,
Far from home and her I love;
Death with life is strongly vying,
And I soon will be above.

refrain
Take this locket, soldier, brother,
Don't forget, give this to mother.

Comrade hear those angels singing,
See beyond the brilliant light;
Hear you joybells sweetly ringing;
Shade my vision from God's sigh;
Death had come, my eyes grow dimmer,
Let me comrade touch your hand,
Ere the stars of ev'ning glimmer,
I will find a fairer land.

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Tell Me Love of Thy Early Dreams

Tell me love of thy early dreams,
How thy flitted away?
How they flow'd with morning beams,
Fading with the day?

Oh! speak of thy childhood's years,
Pleasures now flown,
All thy innocent smiles and tears,
Where, where have they gone?
Know'st thou not that the fondest hopes
Beam then whither away?

Know'st thou not that the fairest flowers,
Bloom but to decay?
Why, why have hope's brightest beams?
Faded at last;
Where oh where are thy early dreams
Gone, gone with the past.

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The Voices That Are Gone

When the twilight shades fall o'er me
And the evening star appears
Memory brings the past before me
Joys and sorrows, smiles and tears.
Then again bright eyes are gleaming
With the love once them shone
Then like music heard when dreaming
Come the voices that are gone

chorus:
Once again bright eyes are gleaming with the light that in them shone
Then like music heard when dreaming
Come the voices that are gone.

Sweet as wood dove's note when calling
To her mate as night draws on,
Soft as snow flake lightly falling
Come the voices that are gone.
Voices heard in days of childhood
Softly at the hour of prayer,
Or loud ringing through the wildwood
When the young heard knew no care.

So when life's bright sun is setting
And its day is well nigh done,
May there be no vain regretting
Over memories I would shun;
But when death is o'er, to meet me
May some much-lov'd forms come on,
And the first sounds that shall greet me
Be the voices that were gone!

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Our Darling Kate

There's bright-eyed maid comes thro's the garden gate,
Light as the wild roe bounding,
O! well I know she is our darling Kate,
For her voice in my heart is sounding;
And her light merry laugh, so mellow, soft, and clear,
On summer breezes ringing,
Like a silver bell strikes on the ravished ear,
And flow'rs 'neath her feet are springing.

chorus:
Darling, darling, darling little Kate,
Fair as the star of morning,
Thine this heart, whatever be my fate,
Till the lamp of life ease burning.

Her radiant face is seen amid the trees,
Bright as the sunlight beaming,
Her fragrant breath gives odor to the breeze,
And her eyes like twin stars are beaming;
And bright aereal forms upon her smiles await
On morn's bright pinions soaring,
They come to greet our darling little Kate,
Her angel form adoring.

Her raven curls hang o'er a neck of snow,
Bath'd in the sunbeams brightness,
Her peach-like cheek with modest blushes glow,
And her brow shames the lily's whiteness
O! were  I possess'd of India's vast estate,
Or the fabled wealth of story,
I'd give them all for darling little Kate,
Our own bright Morning glory.

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Sweet Emerald Isle That I Love So Well

O the dear early days in my own fair land!
In beautiful dreams they come back to me,
And the friends of my boyhood around me stand,
Though far between us the deep blue sea,
And the vales and the cottage I left long ago,
Come before me in joy that my lips cannot tell!
But my visions they fade in the morning's red glow,
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well!

chorus:
Sweet Emerald Isle,
Sweet Emerald Isle,
The heart in my bosom is all thine own,
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well!

Oh! I wake to thy sorrows my childhood's home;
For shadows are dark o'er thy sacred soil!
And thy woes I am sharing while here I roam,
And so are all of thy song of toil.
But thy future is brighter; in glory thou'lt shine,
For thy children are tolling foul tyranny's knell!
Ev'ry wish of my heart, land of beauty is thine,
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well!

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What Does Every Good Child Say?

What does every good child say,
When it wakes at peep of day?
"Jesus, blessed Saviour, keep me
Safe from harm, I humbly pray,"
Jesus answers, "While thou'rt pleading,
I'll protect thee, I will cheer thee,
When thou prayest I will hear thee;
I will keep thee safe this day."

chorus:
Jesus, blessed Saviour, keep us safe from harm, I humbly pray.

What does every good child say,
When at school on Sabbath day?
"Jesus, blessed, Saviour, teach me,
How a little child should pray,"
Jesus answers, "While thou'rt pleading,
I for thee am interceding,
God, thy infant prayer is heeding,
He will teach thee how to pray."

What does every good child say,
When the daylight fades away?
"Jesus Blessed Saviour keep me,
While I sleep this night I pray."
Jesus answers, "While thou'rt sleeping,
Little child, my watch I'm keeping;
Till the morning light comes peeping,
By thy bedside I will stay."

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Praise the Lord!

Let all tongues of every nation,
Praise the Lord!
For the gift of free salvation,
Praise the Lord!

chorus:
Joyful let our voices rise,
In the anthem of the skies,
Let our loud exultant cries,
Now ascend to heaven.

For the blessed Holy spirit,
Praise the Lord!
For the hopes that we inherit,
Praise the Lord!

For our faithful gospel preacher,
Praise the Lord!
For our kind efficient teachers,
Praise the Lord!

All our sings may be forgiven,
Praise the Lord!
And a home secured in heaven,
Praise the Lord!

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Kiss Me Dear Mother

Bend o'er my pillow my mother dear
Life's chilling close is now drawing near
Drive from about me these clouds of fear
Breathe o'er my brow a parting sigh,
I have been wayward unto thee
Now I an feel it painfully
Patient and kind wert thou to me
Kiss me dear mother ere I die.

Tell me of angels that dwell above
Then from my heart will the tear drops move
Whisper to me gentle words of love
While I in gloom suff'ring lie,
I have been wayward unto thee
Now I can feel it painfully
Patient and kind wert thou to me
Kiss me dear mother ere I die.

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