Title: American Old Time Song Lyrics
Subject: Traditional & Folk Music
Author: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk
Keywords: Old time music, American, oldtimey, bluegrass

Good-bye, Jack - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
GOOD-BYE, JACK. Copyright. 1894, by D. C. Allen. Written and Composed by D. C. Allen. 
A pretty little cottage on a bright midsummer's day. A fond and anxious mother and a father old and gray, For years they've watched and waited for their only son's return, Who journeyed to a foreign clime, a fortune for to earn. "Now soon to you I will return, with wealth and riches, too; For day by day and week by week I'll save it all for you," These were the last words he had said the day he went away. And as he left his dear old home, he heard his mother say: 
Chorus. "Good-bye, Jack; you are my pride and comfort, so always think of me; Then when to home you do return, your mother's joy you'll be. Always be good and honest, whatever may betide, So, in my dying moments, you'd be my side." 
A noisy, crowded city, in a distant foreign clime, A youth of young and tender years convicted of a crime; His promises were broken, to temptation he gave Way, And to a prison cell was sent, for five long years to stay; He thought of mother's kindly words when from home he did start, And knew that if she heard the news 'twould surely break her heart: His conscience told him he'd done wrong, no friends had he that day, And now he'd freely give his life to hear his mother say:-Chorus. 
When from the prison he was freed, to home he did return; His golden dreams of youth had fled, and love for her did burn; He'd try and lead a better life and stay with mother dear, But Little did he think that day her end was drawing near, At last he reached his dear old home, and stood at mother's side; She pressed him to her bosom and, with tears of joy, she cried, Then clasped her arms about him and her spirit passed away, And as be kissed her dying lips, he thought he heard her say:- Chorus.