American Old Time Song Lyrics: 33 Youd Better Stay At Home Lad
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 33
You'd Better Stay at Home, Lad.
Copyright, MM. by M. Witmark & Sons.
Written and Composed by Chas. Graham.
The day was bright and fair In May, the harbor white with sails
And stately ships were sailing out to sea;
A fair-haired boy upon the shore looked on with wistful eyes,
A sailor in his heart he longed to be;
An old tar who was passing saw the lad and read his thoughts,
And so he stopped to greet him on the way,
"How can I go to sea, sir" at last the youngster said,
And this is what the old tar had to say:
Chorus.
"You'd better stay at home, lad, until you taller grow;
You say you like the sea, lad, you're not old enough to know;
The sea's not always bright and blue, the weather always fair;
You'd better stay at home awhile your happiest days are there."
'Twas on a day like this, my lad, I ran away to sea;
I knew not what the future had in store;
Like you, my lad, the present was the only time for me.
But now my cup of sorrow's brimming o'er;
Now perhaps you have a mother, lad, as I had long ago;
And perhaps, like mine, she would not from you part;
Your maiden voyage over-too late, too late you'll know
Your mother's gone, and you, lad, broke her heart.
Chorus.
"You'd better stay at home, lad," the youngster heard him say;
"You won't find fame and riches for many and many a day;
You'll leave sad hearts behind you, lad. and many bitter tears;
You'd better stay at home awhile and wait a few more years."