American Old Time Song Lyrics: 41 Love Is Not What It Used To Be

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

Love Is Not What it Used to Be.
Copyright, 1893, by Frank Harding.
Words and Music by James Thornton.

Oh, poets have sung of the joys of life for more than a thousand years,
Both women and men have felt its thrill, its sunshine and its tears;
And warriors bold, in the days of old, they fought for their loves and died
But if one returned from the battle field, then he could claim his bride.

Chorus.
But love is not what it used to be, that's what I have been told;
Once they married for love, they say, but now they get married for gold.
Boys and girls, they have changed as well, all the world will agree,
What they called love in the olden time is not what it used to he,

An old maid sat under a chestnut tree, with nobody by her side,
Her face was as wrinkled as it could be, her curly locks were dyed,
But once she had lovers, a dozen or more, that's when she was young And free,
She never will marry she found that love is not what it used to be.

Chorus.
Yes, love is not what it used to be, that's what I have been told,
Once they married for love, they say, but now they get married for gold.
Boys and girls, they have changed as well, all the world will agree,
Ask an old maid and she'll say that love is not what it used to he.

When a man and a woman get married, they both promise to love and obey,
The husband's the boss of the house for awhile, but the wife soon gets full sway.
He goes to Chicago to get a divorce, And once again both are free,
She goes to her mother And tells her that love is not what it used to be.

Chorus.
No, love is not what it used to be, that's what I have been told,
Once they married for love, they say, but now they get married for gold.
Boys and girls, they have changed as well, all the world will agree,
When you get married you'll find that love is not what it used to be.