My Old Tunes

 My old tunes are ra-ther bro-ken, And they come from far a-way, Bring-ing just a lit-tle to-ken Of a long for-got-ten day; When the chil-dren came to lis-ten, T’oth-er side the gar-den fence, And my heart leapt out of pris-on, At the gift⁠—of sev-en pence! Just be-yond the hay-stack’s sha-dow, Long a-go that leaf-y June, How they danced about the mea-dow At the ris-in’ of the moon! While from out a rail-way car-riage, Stand-ing rea-dy and a-light, Stepped their guests as to a mar-riage Asked to dine⁠—and stay the night! Sweep and Laugh-er danced to-geth-er, And a man who had a lamp Ca-pered light-ly as a fea-ther With a la-zy look-ing tramp; When a voice dis-turbed the Lan-cers: “Chil-dren, come, it’s time for bed” “Rail-way car-riages, Sprites and Dancers Flew up⁠—to the stars instead! Now I am a Con-stel-la-tion, Free from ev-’ry earth-ly care, Play-ing night-ly at my sta-tion For the Big and Lit-tle Bear. But my tunes are still en-tranc-ing As that night in leaf-y June, When I caught the chil-dren dan-cing With the Sprites be-neath the moon! Still the children come to hear me    In the lane or din-gy street; Still the hea-vy pavement near me    Flutters to their hap-py feet; For my tunes are ne’er for-got-ten, And they bring the scent of musk; Grown up folk may call ’em rot-ten, But I’m looked⁠—for when it’s dusk!