American Old Time Song Lyrics: 19 As I Sat Upon My Dear Old Mothers Knee

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 19

As I Sat upon my Dear old Mother's knee
Copyright, 1881, by Wm. J. McVey.
As sung with unbounded applause by George Wilson.

I've a tender recollection that I'll cherish all my life,
And age but makes it dearer day by day;
'Tis the memory of a mother, whose smile in days agone,
Drove all my troubled childish thoughts away.
I remember in the evening when the fire was burning bright,
She'd call me to her side and say to me:
Be brave, my boy, and truthful, and never be ashamed
Of the teachings that you learned on mother's knee.

Chorus.
She was gentle and so kind, and I'll ever bear in mind,
The many golden lessons she taught me;
I have wealth and earthly power, yet I'd give all for one hour,
That I sat upon my dear old mother's knee.

How her loving smile would cheer me when at evening I'd return
From toiling in the meadows all the day,
Each gentle word brought comfort, but that voice is silent now,
The mother that I loved has passed away.
In the quiet village churchyard she has slumbered many years,
And the only treasure life holds dear to me,
Is the mound that oft in twilight I have moistened with my tears,
And the lessons that I learned on mother's knee.-Chorus.