|
Grandfather's Clock
Old-Time Breakdown and Song. Words and Music by Henry Clay Work, (No. 52) Dedicated to his Sister Lizzie(1876);
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes. DATE: It was written in 1876.
SOURCES: Alterman, Ned; and Richie Mintz. Bluegrass Bass, Oak, sof (1977), p92
RECORDING INFO: Boosinger, Laura. My Carolina Home, Upstream UP 888, CD (1990), cut# 3; Cool, Blackie. Back Memories, Augusta Heritage AHR 002, LP (1984), cut# 16; Country Gentlemen. Country Gentlemen on the Road, Folkways FA 2411, LP (1963), cut#A.05 ; Fahey, John. Days Have Gone By. Vol 6, Takoma C-1014, LP (1967), cut# 9; Hanks, Larry. Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail, Long Sleeve LS 104, LP (1982), cut#A.05; Homer and the Barnstormers. Blue Grass Banjos - Flaming Banjos, Alshire 2-120-1/2, LP (197?), cut#1A.06; MacKay, Karen. West Virginia Woman, West Virginia Woman, LP (199?), cut# 3; Piney Creek Weasels. Squirrel Heads and Gravy, Hay Holler HHH-1101, CD (1996), cut#13; Sons of the Pioneers. Country-Western Radio. Rare Radio Recordings of Famous Count..., Radiola MR-1069, LP (1977), cut#B2.3; Staines, Bill; with Guy Van Duser. Old Wood and Winter Wine, Mineral River MRR-1003,1004, LP (1977), cut# 12 (My Grandfathers Clock); Sweeney, Ed. American Sampler, North Star NS0033, Cas (1991), cut# 2; Walker, Wiley; and Gene Sullivan. Wiley and Gene. Radio Favorites, Vol 1., Old Homestead OHCS 188, LP (1988), cut# 17; Watson, Doc; and Family. Treasures Untold, Vanguard CV 77001, Cas (1991), cut# 12; Wiseman, Mac. 20 Old-Time Country Favorites, Rural Rhythm RHY-258, CD (1997), cut#13
NOTES: Famous bluegrass instrumental and song tune by Henry Clay Work.
My grandfather's clock was to 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 pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born,
And was always his treasure and pride.
But it stopp'd short, Never to go again,
When the old man died.
Chorus:Ninety years without slumbering
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
His life seconds numbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock
It stopp'd short, Never to go again
When the old man died.
In watching its 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 the door,
With a blooming and beautiful bride.
But it stopp'd short, Never to go again,
When the old man died. (Repeat Chorus)
My grandfather said, that 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 its place, not a frown upon its face,
And its hands never hung by its side;
But it stopp'd short, Never to go again,
When the old man died. (Repeat Chorus)
It rang an alarm in the dead of the night,
And alarm that for years had been dumb;
And we know that his spirit was pluming its flight,
That his hour of departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side;
But it stopp'd short, Never to go again,
When the old man died. (Repeat Chorus)
|