American Old Time Song Lyrics: 32 Jack Was A True Friend To Me

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 32

Jack Was a True Friend to Me.
Copyright, UN, by James Stillman.
Words and Music by Tom Carter.

In a quiet country village we lived, Jack Dunn and I;
Though Jack was much the stronger of the two;
A great big blustering fellow, but still a chum of mine,
A faithful, honest Creature, kind and true!
We had our petty quarrels, as boys will often do;
We treasur'd up no malice, no, not we!
We'd soon forget our troubles, each other's hand we'd grasp,
For Jack was a true friend to me.

Chorus.
Jack was a true friend to me,
True as a true friend could be'
I've had many others, yet I loved him like a brother,
For Jack was a true friend to me.

'We soon grew up to manhood, and staunch friends still remained;
But little did I think I'd cause him pain;
My old friend Jack ne'er told me be loved the village belle,
Or mentioned that her hand he'd tried to gain;
But when she promised to he mine, the lean stood in his eyes,
he grasped my hand as manly as could be.
He wished me joy and happiness, good fortune and good-bye,
For Jack was a true friend to me. Chorus.

We were wed, but sad misfortune swept o'er us like the title,
And ruination stared us in the- face;
I did my best to comfort and Cheer my youthful bride;
I told her to be poor was no disgrace.
But Jack, somehow, had got the news that we were in distress.
He paid our debts and once more set us free;
Altho' he did not sign his name, I knew it came from him,
For Jack was a true friend to me. Chorus.

I strolled out one spring morning, down by the river bank,
Where Jack and I had rambled a when a boy.
When suddenly I started, there, standing by my side.
Was he who'd shared my sorrow and my joy.
Struck down by cruel sickness he'd come back home to die;
And when from earthly troubles he was free,
I carved upon his tombstone the old familiar words:
Jack was a true friend to me. Chor.