The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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GOOD-BYE, DEAR FRIENDS! |
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| XII. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
GOOD-BYE, DEAR FRIENDS!
I
When on the bough the fruits decay,The hungry sparrows fly away;
And when the house begins to fall,
The rats forsake it, one and all:
Good friends—dear friends—such fate have I!
My fortune 's daily growing worse,
There's not a penny in my purse:
Good-bye!—dear friends—good-bye!
II
'Tis true I gave you corn and wine,And made you free to all things mine;
But times have greatly changed since then,
I yield no drink to thirsty men
Good friends—dear friends—the well is dry;
I seek in vain through all the town,
And cannot borrow half a crown:
Good-bye!—dear friends—good-bye!
III
But should the tree bear fruit once more,The birds will twitter as before;
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The rats will burrow in the wall.
Good friends—you're happy—so am I!
The leafless tree can stand alone;
The wall is built of solid stone:
Good-bye!—dear friends—good-bye!
IV
So get you gone, I need you not!Your friendship's dear at half a groat!
I have some friends worth scores of you,
Health, Hope, and Strength, to dare and do.
Good friends—there's sunshine in the sky;
You've served your ends,—no harm is done,—
I've learn'd what company to shun:
Good-bye!—dear friends—good-bye!
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |