Marsteller & Rhodes present

All songs public domain/traditional; arrangements by Paul Marsteller and Gabriel Rhodes

LYRICS

(alphabetical)

After the Ball (1892)

(Charles Harris)

A little maiden climbed an old man's knee,
Begged for a story – "Do, Uncle, please.
Why are you single; why live alone?
Have you no babies; have you no home?"
"I had a sweetheart years, years ago;
Where she is now pet, you will soon know.
Listen to the story, I'll tell it all,
I believed her faithless after the ball."

After the ball is over,
After the break of morn –
After the dancers' leaving;
After the stars are gone;
Many a heart is aching,
If you could read them all;
Many the hopes that have vanished
After the ball.

Bright lights were flashing in the grand ballroom,
Softly the music playing sweet tunes.
There came my sweetheart, my love, my own –
"I wish some water; leave me alone."
When I returned dear there stood a man,
Kissing my sweetheart as lovers can.
He was her brother, she tried to explain
I would not listen, pleadings were vain.

Long years have passed child, I've never wed.
True to my lost love though she is dead.
That's why I'm lonely, no home at all;
I broke her heart pet, after the ball.

[repeat chorus]

Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life (1910)

(Music: Victor Herbert; words: Rida Johnson Young)

Ah! Sweet mystery of life

At last I've found thee

Ah! I know at last the secret of it all;

All the longing, seeking, striving, waiting, yearning

The burning hope, the joy and idle tears that fall

For 'tis love, and love alone, the world is seeking,

And 'tis love, and love alone, that can repay!

'Tis the answer, 'tis the end and all of living

For it is love alone that rules for aye!

For 'tis love, and love alone, the world is seeking,

For 'tis love, and love alone that can repay!

'Tis the answer, 'tis the end and all of living

For it is love alone that rules for aye!

The Band Played On (1895)

(Charles B. Ward; words: John F. Palmer)

Matt Casey formed a social club that beat the town for style,

And hired for a meeting place a hall

When pay day came around each week they greased the floor with wax.

And danced with noise and vigor at the ball,

Each Saturday you'd see them dressed up in Sunday clothes,

Each lad would have his sweetheart by his side.

When Casey led the first grand march they all would fall in line,

Behind the man who was their joy and pride,

For ---

Casey would waltz with a strawberry blond,

And the Band played on,

He'd glide cross the floor with the girl he ador'd,

and the Band played on,

But his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded,

The poor girl would shake with alarm.

He'd ne'er leave the girl with the strawberry curls,

And the Band played on.

Now when the dance was over and the band played home sweet home,

They played a tune at Casey's own request.

He thank'd them very kindly for the favors they had shown.

Then he'd waltz once more with the girl that he loved best.

Most all the friends are married that Casey used to know,

And Casey too has taken him a wife.

The blond he used to waltz and glide with on the ball room floor,

Is happy missis Casey now for life,

For ---

[repeat chorus]

Beautiful Ohio (1918)

(Mary Earl; words: Ballard Macdonald)

Long, long ago,

Someone I know

Had a little red canoe,

In it room for only two.

Love found its start,

Then in my heart

And like a flower grew

Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream,

While above the Heavens in their glory gleam,

And the stars on high

Twinkle in the sky

Seeming in a paradise of love divine,

Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine,

Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see,

Visions of what used to be.

And the stars on high

Twinkle in the sky

Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see,

Visions of what used to be.

Love found its start,

Then in my heart

And like a flower grew

Come, Josephine In My Flying Machine (1910)
(Fred Fisher: words: Alfred Bryan)

Oh, say! Let us fly, dear.

Where, kid?

to the sky, dear.

Oh, you flying machine!

Jump in Miss Josephine.

Ship ahoy!

Oh, joy! what a feeling

Where, boy? in the ceiling.

Ho, high,

Hoopla! we fly to the sky so high…..

Come Josephine, in my flying machine,

Going up, she goes! up she goes!

Balance yourself like a bird on a beam,

In the air she goes! there she goes!

Up, up, a little bit higher,

Oh, my! the moon is on fire---

Come, Josephine in my flying machine,

Going up, all on, "Goodbye!"

Going up she goes! up she goes!

In the air she goes! There she goes!

Up, up

Oh! My!

Going up, all on, "goodbye!"

One, two, now we're off, dear.

Say you, pretty soft, dear,

Whoa! dear, don't hit the moon.

No, dear, not yet but soon.

You for me,

Oh, gee you're a fly kid.

Not me, I'm a sky kid.

Gee! I'm up in the air about you for fair

(repeat chorus)

The Dying Californian (1854)

(A. L. Lee; words: adapted from original)

Lie up nearer, brother, nearer,

For my limbs are growing cold,

And thy presence seemeth nearer

When thine arms around me fold.

I am dying, brother, dying,

Soon you'll miss me in your berth;

For my form will soon be lying,

'Neath the ocean's briny surf.

Oh my children, Heaven bless them,

They recall my life to me

Would I could once more caress them,

Ere I sink beneath the sea;

'Twas for them I crossed the ocean,

What my hopes were I'll not say;

But I've gained an orphan's portion,

As we sailed from home away.

Tell I never reached the haven

Where I sought the precious dust,

But I have gained a port called Heaven,

Where the gold will never rust

The Flying Trapeze (1867)

(Gaston Lyle; words: George Leybourne)

Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn

Like an old coat that is tattered and torn

Left on this world to fret and to mourn

Betrayed by a maid in her teens

The girl that I loved she was handsome

I tried all I knew her to please

But I could not please her one-quarter so well

As the man on the flying trapeze

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease

That daring young man on the flying trapeze

His movements were graceful

All girls could he please

And my love he purloined away

This young man by name was Signor Bona Slang

Tall, big and handsome, as well made as Chang

Wherever he appeared the hall loudly rang

With ovation, from all people there

He'd smile from the bar on the people below

And one night he smiled on my Love

She winked back at him, and shouted "Bravo!"

As He hung by his nose up above

[repeat chorus]

Her Father and Mother were both on my side

And very hard tried to make her my bride

Her Father he sighed and her mother she cried

To see her throw herself away

'Twas all no avail, she went there every night

And would throw him bouquets on the stage

Which caused him to meet her

How He ran me down,

To tell you would take a whole page

So one night as usual, I went to her home

Found there her Father and Mother alone

I asked for my Love and soon they made it known

To my horror that she'd run away

He'd taught her gymnastics

And dressed her in tights

To help him live at his ease

And made her assume a masculine name

And now she goes on the Trapeze

She'd fly through the air

With the greatest of ease

You'd think her that man on the flying trapeze

Her movements were graceful

All girls she could please

And that was the end of my love

[repeat chorus]

Home Sweet Home (1823)

(Sir Henry Bishop; words: John Howard Payne)

'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble there's no place like Home!
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,
Which seek thro' the world is not met with elsewhere;

Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home,
There's no place like Home.

No more from that Cottage, again will I roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like Home

Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home,
There's no place like Home!

I Love You Truly (1901)

(Carrie Jacobs-Bond)

I love you truly, truly, dear.
Life with its sorrow, life with its tear,
Fades into dreams when I feel you are near,
For I love you truly, truly, dear.

Ah! love, ’tis something to feel your kind hand,
Ah! yes, ’tis something by your side to stand;
Gone is the sorrow, Gone doubt and fear,
For you love me truly, truly, dear.

For I love you truly, truly, dear.

Just A-Wearyin' For You (1901)

(Carrie-Jacobs Bond; words: Frank Stanton)

Just a-wearyin’ for you

All the time a-feelin’ blue.

Wishin’ for you, wond’rin’ when

You’ll be comin’ home again.

Restless, don’t know what to do.

Just a-wearyin’ for you.

Mornin’ comes, the birds awake.
Used to sing so for your sake.
But there’s sadness in the notes
That come trillin’ from their throats.
Seem to feel your absence too,
Just a-wearyin’ for you.

Evenin’ comes, I miss you more
When the dark gloom’s round the door.
Seems just like you ought to be
There to open it for me.
Latch goes tinklin’, thrills me through.
Sets me wearyin’ for you.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1910)

(Leo Friedman; words: Beth Slater Whitson)

I am dreaming dear of you, day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue,
When they're grey

Let me call you "Sweetheart", I'm in love with you

Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.

Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true.

Let me call you "Sweetheart", I'm in love with you.

Longing for you all the while, more and more
Longing for the sunny smile, I adore
Birds are singing far and near
Roses blooming everywhere
You alone my heart can cheer
You, just you

Let me call you "Sweetheart", I'm in love with you

Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.

Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true.

Let me call you "Sweetheart", I'm in love with you.

Long Time Ago (1839)
(Charles E. Horn; words: George P. Morris)

Near the lake where drooped the willow,
Long time ago!
Where the rock threw back the billow

Brighter than snow.

Dwelt a maid, beloved and cherished,

By high and low;

But with Autumn's leaf, she perished

Long time ago!

Rock, and tree, and flowing water,

Long time ago!

Bird, and bee, and blossom taught her,

Love's spell to know.

While to my fond words she listened,

Murmuring low,

Tenderly her dove eyes glistened,

Long time ago!

Mingled were our hearts forever,

Long time ago!

Can I now forget her? -- Never!

No! Lost one, no!

To her grave these tears are given,

Ever to flow;
She's the star I missed from heaven,

Long time ago!

Love's Old Sweet Song (1884)

(James Lynam Molloy; words: G. Clifton Bingham)

Once in the dear dead days beyond recall,

When on the world the mists began to fall,

Out of the dreams that rose in happy throng,

Low to our hearts Love sang an old sweet song;

And in the dusk where fell the firelight gleam,

Softly it wove itself into our dream.

Just a song at twilight, when the lights are low,
And the flick’ring shadows softly come and go,
Tho’ the heart be weary, sad the day and long,
Still to us at twilight comes Love’s old song,
Comes Love’s old sweet song.

Even today we hear Love’s song of yore,
Deep in our hearts it dwells for evermore,
Footsteps may falter, weary grow the way,
Still we can hear it at the close of day;
So till the end when life’s dim shadows fall,
Love will be found the sweetest song of all.

(Repeat chorus)

A Perfect Day (1910)

(Carrie Jacobs-Bond)

When you come to the end of a perfect day,

And you sit alone with your thought,

While the chimes ring out with a carol gay

For the joy that the day has brought,

Do you think what the end of a perfect day

Can mean to a tired heart,

When the sun goes down with a flaming ray,

And the dear friends have to part?

Well, this is the end of a perfect day,

Near the end of a journey, too;

But it leaves a thought that is big and strong,

With a wish that is kind and true.

For mem'ry has painted this perfect day

With colors that never fade,

And we find at the end of a perfect day

The soul of a friend we've made.

Silver Dagger (1907)

(Traditional; Adapted lyrics)

Leave my window

You'll wake my mother

She's sleeping here right by my side

In her right hand is a silver dagger

She says that I can't be your bride

All men are cruel

So says my mother

They'll tell you tender,

lovely lies

And then they'll go

And court some other

Leave you alone to pine inside

So go away and court another

In hopes that you might find a wife

For I've been warned and I've decided

to sleep alone all of my life

Somewhere A Voice Is Calling (1911)

(Arthur F. Tate; words: Eileen Newton)

Dusk and the shadows falling

O'er land and sea;

Somewhere a voice is calling,

Calling for me.

[repeat verse]

Night and the stars are gleaming

tender and true

Dearest, my heart is dreaming,

Dreaming of you.

[repeat verse]