American Old Time Song Lyrics: 17 Many Changes Have I Seen

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 17

MANY CHANGES HAVE I SEEN.

Many changes have I seen,
Over many lands have I been,
I have learned a thing or two in my time.
But I never knew a knave,
Who went happy to the grave,
Or reached the mountain-top he went to climb.

Though I have traveled far and wide,
And have waited time and tide,
But I never knew dishonesty to win.
For a man, however hard,
From all sympathy debarred,
Whose kindness does not touch and enter in:

Never yet in all my rounds,
Though I have sought it, have I found
A thriving man contented with a will,
Nor the children of the just,
Lying homeless in the dust,
Without a friend to shield them from the cold.

Never yet could I discern,
Though I have studied hard to learn,
That the rich could bolt out sorrow from the door;
Nor the children very wise,
In their own and others' eyes,
Did not nurse some little folly at their cause.

Never yet knew I a man,
Who made others' good a plan,
Who was not contented with his gold,
Nor the worshiper of wealth,
Or the scraping up of health,
Whose troubles were not scattered to the wind.

So now my song is done,
Here is success to everyone,
And he throughout his life that plays a manly part,
May blessings on him flow
Be he old or be he young,
Who unites a willing and loving heart.