When Kate and I Were Coming Thro’ the Rye

A popular song from 1902
Words by Andrew B. Sterling
Music by Harry Von Tilzer


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. It was harvest time way down in old New England
    And the sun was shining on the golden grain
    I was coming thro’ the rye with sweetheart Katie
    And my heart was filled with pleasure and with pain
    I had waited, oh, so long, to say, “I love you”
    Won’t you whisper that we never more will part
    So I took her hand in mine and softly told her
    While I gently drew her closer to my heart

Chorus
When Kate and I were coming thro’ the rye
The sun shone down upon us from on high
How she trembled when I kissed her
How she drooped her eye and whispered “yes”
When Kate and I were coming thro’ the rye

  1. Many years have passed away in old New England
    Since the village folks did hear our wedding chimes
    Still they see us wander forth the same old sweethearts
    Thro’ the fields of waving rye at harvest times
    But a blue-eyed little stranger walks between us
    ‘Tis a baby girl that angels sent one day
    And I often kiss my sweetheart wife and whisper
    Tender words I spoke in days long passed away