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I wandered on the day's long path, up the hill I strayed,
I sat along that very stone where oft times we played;
I gazed on it one moment, 'twas the very stone I seen,
Just as it were in days gone by when we were sweet sixteen.
And I long for those bright days to come again once more,
But come again they never will for I am sixty-four.
It's past, it's past, oh, yes it is, the dawn of day is o'er,
And I'm in hopes to meet again upon that far off shore;
And when we meet we never shall part and blessed we both shall reign,
We'll talk about those happy days when we were sweet sixteen.
And I long for those bright days to come again once more,
But come again they never will for I am sixty-four.
That little trout swims in the brook it murmurs down below,
It swims on still and forever will as it did in years ago;
And the little meadow by its side was just as fresh and green,
As what it were in days gone by when we were sweet sixteen.
And I long for those bright days to come again once more,
But come again they never will for I am sixty-four.
Sung by Jim Rice [1879-1958] of Cape Broyle, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A variant was recorded by Harry Hibbs (The Very Best of Harry Hibbs, Vol 1, 1978; Remastered, CBC, 2001).
See more Harry Hibbs songs.
A variant was also recorded by Dick Nolan (Newfoundland Good Times, 1999, Condor HCD 4499).
