GROWIN’ GRAY

Hello, ole man, you‘ re a-gittin’ gray,

An’ it beats ole Ned to see the way

‘ At the crow's feet's a-getherin’ aroun’ yore eyes;

Tho’ it ought n't to cause me no su'prise,

Fur there‘ s many a sun‘ at you‘ ve seen rise

An’ many a one you‘ ve seen go down

Sence yore step was light an’ yore hair was brown,

An’ storms an’ snows have had their way —

Hello, ole man, you‘ re a-gittin’ gray.

Hello, ole man, you‘ re a-gittin’ gray,

An’ the youthful pranks‘ at you used to play

Are dreams of a far past long ago

That lie in a heart where the fires burn low —

That has lost the flame though it kept the glow,

An’ spite of drivin’ snow an’ storm,

Beats bravely on forever warm.

December holds the place of May —

Hello, ole man, you‘ re a-gittin’ gray.

Hello, ole man, you‘ re a-gittin’ gray —

Who cares what the carpin’ youngsters say?

For, after all, when the tale is told,

Love proves if a man is young or old!

Old age can n't make the heart grow cold

When it does the will of an honest mind;

When it beats with love fur all mankind;

Then the night but leads to a fairer day —

Hello, ole man, you‘ re a-gittin’ gray!