American Old Time Song Lyrics: 20 Old And Only In The Way

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 20

Old And Only In The Way.
Copyright, 1880, by T. B. Harms & Co.

As we walk thro' the street how often we meet
Some poor old men, whose lives are naught but woe:
With age their forms are bent, in their pockets not a cent.
And for shelter they do not know where to go.
With relations by the score, who keep them from the door.
And meeting on the street they pass them by;
If you ask them why it's done, they will answer you And say,
"We're poor, we're old and only in the way!"

Chorus.
So let us cheer them on, they won't be with us long.
Don't let us sneer them because they're old and gray;
And remember while were young, the days to us may come
When we'll be old and only in the way.

There was a time, I hear, when the young were not so queer.
But since that time there's come an awful change;
Young men in health and might their old parents they will strike,
And it happens every day, it's nothing strange.
Take this poor wreck of toil, his children him do spurn.
For death I'm sure he oftentimes does pray;
Himself and faithful wife, after toiling all their life.
When old they find that they are in the way.- Chorus.

My little song, I'm sure, is for rich as well as poor.
For take a rich man when he's growing old.
His friends will shake his hand, his relations round him stand,
Awaiting him to die-they want his gold.
Then let us from this hour do all that's in our power
To make the road for old folks light and gay;
And if they trouble on us cast, why, let it be our last
To say that they are old and in the way.-Chorus.