As In Our Younger Days, George

 Lyrics by Marion Parsons © 2004, music traditional

Maggie’s response to the traditional Canadian song “When You and I Were Young, Maggie” (written in 1864).

Would I were with you, wandering on the hill
Where once we courted, by the rusting mill
Gaily the birds are singing where I lie
As in our younger days, George, you and I.

Few were the months in wedded bond of heart
Many the years since fortune did us part
Constant our love, unbroken still our tie
As in our younger days, George, you and I.

Mournful the words time wrote upon your face
All of your grief in time shall be erased
Grey be your head, but brilliant still your eye
As in our younger days, George, you and I.

Seasons of late I see your flesh decline
Watch o’er your bed as you watched over mine
Hastening the day my arms shall hold you nigh
As in our younger days, George, you and I.

This song is a response to the George Johnson’s well loved 1864 song “When You and I Were Young, Maggie”.  Although the original song sounds like it was written in old age, it was actually written early in their lives, and Maggie ended up dying of tuberculosis a few months after they were married.  Johnson’s lyrics and biography can be found at this page; you can hear the song on Youtube here.

The melody to my song is Abide With Me; I sing it unaccompanied.