American Old Time Song Lyrics: 52 The Path To Paradise

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 52

THE PATH TO PARADISE.
Copyright, 1896, by J. M. Raufeisen.
Words by J. M. Raufeisen. Music by James Whitehouse.

Oh, sexton cruel-sexton, why close your gate to me?
You tell me now and never my poor mamma I will see;
You took her to your church-yard not many days ago.
And where my daring mamma is now, surely you must know.
Before she closed her eyes to me, she kissed my golden hair.
And said, in Paradise we'll meet with angels pure and fair.
Oh! sexton cruel sexton, why don't you heed my cries
And show me now where I can find the path to Paradise.

Refrain.
Show me the path to Paradise, see my sad and weeping eyes;
Guide me kindly by the hand to happiness and light;
Show me my mamma's face again, do not let me seek in vain,
Take me from the shadows here to skies forever bright.

I've wandered from our humble home, my heart is filled with fears,
For no one feels, my silent grief or stays my falling tears;
They tell me that my mamma's dead, and in her grave so cold.
And left me here forsaken and in misery untold;
But mamma said in Paradise her little child she'd see;
How could a grave so dark and small hold all her love for me?
Oh! sexton cruel sexton, you see my tearful eyes;
Oh! show me now where I can find the path to Paradise.-Refrain.

Oh, sexton, if my mamma knew how lonely I am here,
Would not her fond heart heat for me, would not her soul be near?
When in those happy days gone by, while sitting by her side,
I often listened to her words with wonder and delight.
She told me of that Paradise where all is love and peace,
Where weary hearts find rest and cheer, where all our sorrows cease;
Oh! sexton when my soul so lone, goes upward to the skies,
'Tis then I'll find the path so dear that leads to Paradise.- Refrain.