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Grandfather’s Clock

Music By: Henry C. Work, Arranged by Alfred M. Durham This setting by Michael Smurthwaite

Voices: Unison

Lyrics By: Henry C. Work

Description: Charming old-time favorite ballad with a clock-like rhythm. Clock symbolic of grandfather’s life.

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Grandfathers-Clock-2
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 penny weight more.

It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born, and was always his treasure and pride.

But it stopped, short, never to go again when the old man died.

 

2. In watching it’s pendulum swing to and fro, Many hours had he spent while a boy;

And in 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 stopped, short, never to go again when the old man died.

 

3. My grandfather said 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 it’s place not a frown upon it’s face, And it’s hands never hung by it’s side,

But it stopped, 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 know that his spirit was pluming for flight, That his hour for departure had come.

Still the clock kept the time with a soft and muffled chime As we silently stood by his side,

But it stopped, short, never to go again when the old man died.

 

CLOSING REPRISE

Ninety years without slumbering, tick, tock, tick, tock,

His life second’s numbering tick, tock, tick, tock,

But it stopped, short never to go again, When the old man died.