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Grandfather's Clock- Sequel
Old-Time Breakdown and Song. Words and Music by Henry Clay Work;
ARTIST: From Levy Sheet Music Collection, Johns Hopkins University;
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes. DATE: It was written in 1878.
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: Sequel to famous bluegrass instrumental and song tune by Henry Clay Work.
SEQUEL TO GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK
Once again have I roamed thro' the old-fashioned house,
Where my grandfather spent his ninety years.
There are strangers in charge, and the change they have wrought
Oh! it saddens me, even to tears.
Dear old clock! when they found you were speechless from grief,
Then they went and swapped you off, case and all.
For that vain, stuck-up thing
(tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick),
For that vain, stuck-up thing on the wall.
Chorus: Grandfather sleeps in his grave;
Strange steps resound in the hall!
And there's that vain, stuck-up thing
(tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick),
There's that vain, stuck-up thing on the wall.
While we talked of the old clock they all ran it down.
Tho' they claimed that it couldn't be made to run.
It was useless they said-- it was quite out of style;
Built, no doubt, just about the year One.
And the words echoed round, with a faint, mocking sound,
As if some one gave assent to it all;
'Twas that vain, stuck-up thing
(tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick),
'Twas that vain, stuck-up thing on the wall.
Repeat Chorus
From the clock-peddler's cart to the junk-shop it went,
Where its cog-wheels were sundered one by one;
And the brass-founder joked as they writhed in the flames
"Melt'em up," says he; "then they will run."
There is grief in my heart, there are tears in my eyes.
Yet indignantly the sight I recall
Of that vain, stuck-up thing
(tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick),
Of that vain, stuck-up thing on the wall.
Repeat Chorus
"An extremely hard case!" said the junk-dealer's wife,
As she carved it for kindling wood and sighed
That mahogany case, with its quaint, figured face,
Which so long was my grandfather's pride.
"There is hope for the small; there's a chance for us all;
For the mighty ones of Time, they must fall!"
Says that vain, stuck-up thing
(tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick),
Says that vain, stuck-up thing on the wall.
Repeat Chorus
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