In The Winter Of Life

Collected by Sabine Baring-Gould from a Charles Arscott, 1896.

I should like for to have in the winter of life A neat little cottage for me and my wife With a barrel of ale and a snug little fire And food that’s sufficient is all my desire Chorus: For I’m growing old and my locks they are grey No more shall I dance with the young and the gay For time hath determined the truth to unfold I’ve a mark on my forehead to show I am old. 2. And some wounded old soldier I’ll have with me to dwell With his cook and to hear the strange stories he’ll tell How he conquered his fears and his victory gained How he was promoted and how he got lamed. Chorus: 3. If the friend comes to visit me and my little cot I’ll bid him partake of the luck of my pot Though no ale shall be wanting while with me he doth stay But the bailiff I always send empty away. Chorus: 4. The very next moment I’m panting for breath Then close by my elbow Is grasping old Death I’ll ask not the time for one moment to stay He’s the great Lord of Terrors and we must obey. Chorus: