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!
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 they 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.