(Don’t Leave Your Mother When Her Hair Turns Gray)
The popular mother song of 1885
Arranged by Harry Birch
The sheet music:
Lyrics
- How well do I remember, though many years ago,
I journeyed down to Plymouth, with my mother you must know;
The ships were in the harbor, with flags and banners dressed.
And weeping wives and children were waiting with the rest;
My father was a sailor on board a man-of-war,
Who once again was going to leave us by the shore;
He kissed our lips at parting, while standing on the quay.
And as he bade us both good-bye, these words to me did say:
Chorus.
Stick to your mother, Tom, when I am gone,
Don’t let her worry, lad, don’t let her mourn;
Remember that she nursed you when I was far away;
Don’t leave your mother when her hair turns gray.
- Our hearts were dull and heavy, returning home again;
We scarcely spoke a whisper while riding in the train,
The journey seemed unending, and leaden was the sky.
Until we reached the station where home was very nigh;
The cottage looked so desolate, And vacant was the chair,
In which my father lingered whenever he was near;
I came and stood by mother, so full of hope and fear;
She fondled and caress’d me as she whisper’d through her tears - The time rolled slowly onward, many changes had occurr’d,
But of the good ship Victor, for months we had not heard;
My mother grew so anxious, her cheeks were sad and pale,
And I was very fearful she suddenly would fail.
One day there came a telegram to say the ship was lost,
She’d foundered many miles away, when she’d been tempest tossed;
My mother fainted at the news, but when the swoou had fled.
I kissed her as I told her of the words my father said - She lingered through the Summer, but when the frost, the snow
The bitter winds of Winter very quickly laid her low
She died in my embraces, with a spirit calm and brave;
And now the weeping willow bends silently o’er her grave;
I often go to see her grave, and keep the verdure green,
And plant some spotless lillies upon the peaceful scene,
And feel the satisfaction of knowing, though she’s dead,
I tried to do my duty to the words my father said