American Old Time Song Lyrics: 07 As I Read The Paper Through

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 7

As I Read the Paper Through.
Written and sung by Joln W. Gibbons.

One night as I sat leisurely by my fireside so bright,
I picked up a newspaper that had just fell across my sight,
Of different things I read about and found the most were true,
While gazing o'er the columns as I read the paper through.
I noticed where the working class could get no work at all,
The rich men tried to down them, yes, and push them to the wall:
There's many a starving family would be glad for work to do-
So I said, God help the poor man, as I read the paper through.

I next read of a working girl, whom a villain had enticed,
He brought her from her home, so dear, unto misery and vice,
When the girl realized she had fallen, her heart was broke in two,
I cried aloud, it is a shame, as I read the paper through.
Her parents, broken-hearted, their grief they could not hide,
When the dreadful news had reached them that their child, an outcast.
The incident was touching, and I scarcely could renew, [had died ;
When I saw she was laid in the Potter's Field, as I read the paper through.

I next read of the rescue of the famous Greeley crew,
Discovered by American tars when none else could find a clue,
For night and day they searched around, their comrades to relieve,
When all at once the distress flag in the distance could be seen;
Though England did procure a boat and to us did bestow,
'Twas the Yankee lads, with hearts of oak, that were the first to go;
They left here, at the risk of life, to find the Greeley crew-
So I hailed three cheers for the American tars, as I read the paper through.

I next read of Grover Cleveland, who is our President,
It reminded me of him who from this world was foully sent;
J mean the martyred Garfield, who's gone to a brighter home;
When a man is honest, brave and true, can't he be let alone'
From the tow-path to the White House, through manly toil and strife,
now is it that one man deprives another of his life?
God bless the name of Garfield, in every state And town-
I burst in tears Just as I sat and threw the paper down.