MY GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK - 1876 - Tom Roush

• published: 13 Jun 2013
• views: 244560

Henry Work also wrote a little known sequel to this time endearing ballad which I also recorded and is now on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQA6SwM8g0M . 'My Grandfather's Clock' and the American Civil War era 'Marching Through Georgia' were Work's most popular songs.This and 14 other songs of 19th century America are available on my new CD - 'MY GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK' available at: http://tomroush.us/ or iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-grandfathers-clock/id943157863 Some folks have asked for the lyrics. 1. My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf, So it stood ninety years on the floor; It was taller by half than the old man himself, Though it weighed not a pennyweight more. It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born, And was always his treasure and pride; But it stopp'd short-- never to go again-- When the old man died. CHORUS Ninety years without slumbering (tick, tick, tick, tick), His life seconds numbering (tick, tick, tick, tick), It stopp'd short-- never to go again-- When the old man died. 2. In watching its pendulum swing to and fro, Many hours had he spent while a boy; And its childhood and manhood the clock seemed to know And to share both his grief and his joy. For it struck twenty-four when he entered at the door, With a blooming and beautiful bride; But it stopp'd short-- never to go again-- When the old man died. (CHORUS) 3. My grandfather said that of those he could hire, Not a servant so faithful he found; For it wasted no time, and had but one desire-- At the close of each week to be wound. And it kept in its place-- not a frown on its face, And the hands never hung by its side; But it stopp'd short-- never to go again-- When the old man died. 4. It rang an alarm in the dead of the night-- An alarm that for years had been dumb; And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight-- That his hour of departure had come. Still the clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime, As we silently stood by his side; But it stopp'd short-- never to go again-- When the old man died. (CHORUS)