American Old Time Song Lyrics: 33 Broken Down

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 33

BROKEN_DOWN.

Once I'd money, plenty, and friends, too, by the score;
Then fortune smiled upon me and no one passed my door.
Now I'm poor and lonely, and not worth half a crown,
No one seems to know me-I'm completely broken down.

Chorus.
I wander through the world, and meet with many a frown;
No one seems to know me now, because I'm broken down.

With an ample fortune, I went it rather fast,
The pace was almost killing, and I found it couldn't last.
Too proud to put the curb on, I thought myself high-bred,
And now, for want of "bread" at times, I have to "fast" instead.-Chorus.

The immortal Shakespeare says, "All the world's a stage,"
And every man must "play his part," from childhood to old age;
And when I think of days gone by, how I was made the tool
Of rogues and sharps, 'tis then I know my part has been the "fool." -Chorus.

Friends could recognize me when Poole he made my coat.
But when I had no "note to change," how soon they "changed their note! "
An object sad and needy, I wander through the town,
A living paradox am I, "Hard up," yet "Broken down."

Chorus.
I wander through the world, and meet with many a frown;
The time to try your friends, you'll find, is when you're broken down.