American Old Time Song Lyrics: 60 She May Have Seen Better Days
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 60
She May Have Seen Better Days.
Copyright, 1894, by T. B. Harms & Co.
Words and Music by James Thornton.
While strolling along with the city's vast throng,
On a night that was bitter cold,
I noticed a crowd, who were laughing aloud
At something they chanced to behold;
I stopped for to see what the object could be,
And there, on a doorstep, lay
A woman in tears, from the crowd's angry jeers.
And then I heard somebody say:
Chorus.
She may have seen better days, when she was in her prime;
She may have seen better days once upon a time;
Though by the wayside she fell, she may yet mend her ways;
Some poor, old mother is waiting for her, who has seen better days.
If we could but tell why the poor creature fell.
Perhaps we'd not be so severe;
If the truth were but known of this outcast alone.
Mayhap we would all shed a tear.
She was once some one's joy, cast aside like a toy-
Abandoned, forsaken, unknown.
Every man standing by had a tear in his eye.
For some had a daughter at home.-Chor.
The crowd went away, but I longer did stay;
For from her I was loath to depart;
I knew by her moan, as she sat there alone.
That something was breaking her heart;
She told me her life, she was once a good wife,
Respected and honored by all;
Her husband had fled ere they were long wed.
And tears down her cheeks sadly fall- Chorus.