American Old Time Song Lyrics: 25 The Husbands Dream

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 25

THE HUSBANDS DREAM.

Why, Dermot, you look healthy, now your dress is neat and clean,
I never see you drunk about, on. tell me where you've been;
Your wife and family all are well, you once did use them strange,
Oh, you are kinder to them now, how came the happy change?

It was a dream, a wanting voire, which heaven sent to me.
To snatch me from a drunkard's curse, grim want and misery;
My wages were all spent in drink, oh, what a wretched view!
I almost broke my Mary's heart, and starved my children, too.

What was my home or wife to me? I heeded not her sigh.
Her patient smile has welcomed me when tears bedimmed her eye;
My children, too, have oft awoke, oh, father, dear, they've said.
Poor mother has been weeping so because we've had no bread.

My Mary's form did waste away, I saw her sunken eye,
On straw my babes in sickness laid. I heard their wailing cry;
I laughed and sung in drunken joy, while Mary's tears did stream.
Then like a beast I fell asleep and had this warning dream:

I thought I once more staggered home, there seemed a solemn gloom,
I missed my wife, where can she be? and strangers in the room;
Then I heard them say: Poor thing, she's dead, she led a wretched life,
Grief And want has broken her heart-who'd be a drunkard's wife? .

I saw my children weeping 'round, I scarcely drew my breath,
They called and kissed her lifeless form forever stilled in death;
Oh, father, come and wake her up, the people say she's dead.
Oh, make her smile and speak once more, we'll never cry for bread.

She is not dead, I frantic cried, and rushed to where she lay,
And madly kissed her once warm lips, forever cold as clay;
Oh, Mary, speak once more to me, no more I'll cause you pain,
No more I'll grieve your loving heart, nor ever drink again.

Dear Mary, speak, 'tis Dermot calls. Why, so I do! she cried,
I awoke, and true, my Mary, dear, was kneeling at my side;
I pressed her to my throbbing heart, while joyous tears did stream,
And ever since I've heaven blessed for sending me that dream.