American Old Time Song Lyrics: 42 When I Was A Boy Like You
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 42
When I Was a Boy Like You.
Copyright, 1893, by The S. Brainard's Sons Co.
Words and Music by R. M. Stulta
An old man wandered alone one day,
Till he came to a rich man's door,
Where a bright little boy in the yard at play
Had ne'er seen a beggar before.
"Oh, won't you come in, sir? Now do, I pray,
And why do you beg for bread?"
"Your questions are easily answered, child,"
The rugged wanderer said.
Refrain.
"When I was a boy like you." he said, "my heart was lighr and free,
No care my youthful life beguiled, no thought that this would e'er be.
I played o'er meadows bright and gay, as little children do;
But my heart was broken one sad, sad day, tho' I once was a boy like you.
"I loved my mother the same as you,
I was her pride and joy,
And she lovingly bade me be good and true,
When I was a little boy,
When older I grew I met one day
The girl that I made my bride;
I thought she was true, but she went away
With my trusted friend by her side.-Refrain.
"But now I wander the wide world o'er,
My life is lone and sad,
And I long again for the days of yore,
But their memory drives me mad.
I'm waiting to die, my time has passed,
To my fate I must humbly bow;
And so it will be while my life shall last,
For I'm an old man now." -Refrain.