A 1900 popular song.
Words by Helen Hay.
Music by Reginald de Koven.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Can one long dead forget the rose
The sweetness of the laughing spring?
Not so, his heart impatient knows
That life and love are on the wing
Well knows that life and love are on the wing
Ah, dream of youth in love's so drear December
Be death my portion, still I must remember
Can I forget, dear heart, can I forget?
Refrain:
Can I forget, Sweetheart, forget
Ah! Can I forget the sunshine in this night of sorrow
Can I forget because you bid me dear
Give up the past because our life holds no tomorrow?
Heart of my heart, heart of my heart
Heart of my heart
Can I forget the love of yesteryear
2. For your dear sake, I lost the light
My sun that shone within your eyes
I left you dear, then came the night
For love is not a rose that dies
For love, for love, is not a rose that dies
But tho' you chide, one tie I will not sever
I keep the past forever and forever
Can I forget, dear love, can I forget?