American Old Time Song Lyrics: 15 The Old Willow Cradle

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 15

THE OLD WILLOW CRADLE.
Copyright, 1879. by W. H. Rieger.

It stands in the garret deserted and lone.
All dingy and broken, with webs overgrown;
The hands that once rocked it, how quiet are they,
The smiles that beamed o'er it have faded away.
A sweet angel mother once leaned o'er its side,
And sang to her baby, her darling and pride;
Oh, sad mem'ries gather, and tears downward creep.
That old willow cradle once rocked us to sleep, Ah!-

Chorus.
Twas rocking, still rocking, at twilight's sweet fall,
And rocking, still rocking, when night covered all;
A mother's fond prayer begged the angels to keep
Sweet watch o'er the cradle that rocked us to sleep.

A dear baby brother its pillow has pressed,
While angel-sweet lullabies sang him to rest;
Oh, sad were the tear-drops when empty it stood,
And gone was that brother so gentle and good.
His wee broken playthings lay near it that day,
When angels had borne him so softly away;
Oh, long o'er thy pillow a mother would weep.
Dear old willow cradle that rocked us to sleep, Ah!-Chorus.
It stands in the garret deserted and lone,
All dingy and broken, with webs overgrown;
And years have departed since I was a child,
And over my pathway my loved ones have smiled.
Yet oft in the pauses of world-wear)' strife,
The sweet early mem'ries will dawn on my life;
They bind to my heart, with affection so deep,
The old willow cradle that rocked us to sleep, Ah!-Chorus.