American Old Time Song Lyrics: 41 I'm The Only One Left Of The Family

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 41

I'm the Only One Left of the Family.
Copyright, 1892, by Geo. C. Edwards.
Words and Music by Geo. C. Edwards.

In a humble little cottage, we would gather 'round at night,
Father, mother, sister, brother,-'twas, to me, a pleasant sight;
All the family so cheerful, by the fireside's ruddy glow,
In those happy days of childhood, that again I'll never know.
Mother knitted in the arm-chair, while my father proudly told
Of the war and all its battles, in those stirring times of old.
Then we shared their good night kisses, when our evening pray'r was done;
Now the old home's gone forever, all have left me, one by one.

Refrain.
I'm the only one left of the fam'ly, the world I plod all alone,
And the tears sadly fall as I fondly recall the hearts that forever have flown;
Not a home on this earth like my own I see, no loved ones half so fair;
I'm the only one left, of all I'm bereft, there's no one my life to share.

O'er the deep my brother wandered, and we used to watch for him,
From the little cottage window, in the twilight soft and dim;
I How my mother longed to see him, and my father pray'd in vain
For his sailor boy's returning, but he ne'er came home again.
Father, mother, old And feeble, and my sister passed away,
Oh! their memories are sacred, in my heart, from day to day.
And my life is very lonely when I think of them afar,
In the land of joy and beauty, where the sinless angels are-Refrain.

Thro' this world, as lone I wander, ev'ry heart seems sadly cold;
So unlike are all that greet me, to the gentle ones of old;
Only one dear home is given unto us while on this earth,
'Tis the home where dwelt our parents, 'tis the home tnat gave us birth.
Father, mother, sister, brother, and my humble cottage home,
Oh! your memory is sacred, while, 'mid strangers, here I roam.
And whatever may befall me, I shall ever keep it green;
For the present has no pleasure, all my joy's in what has been.-Refrain.