| Author | Topic: Add: My Grandfather's Clock | |
| dmcg | Posted - 25 Mar 06 - 07:52 am | |
My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf, So it stood ninety years on the floor; It was taller by half than the old man himself, Tho' it weighed not a pen-ny weight more. It was bought of the morn of the day that he was born, And was always his treasure and pride; But it stopped short, never to go again, When the old man died. (Chorus) Ninety years without slumbering: Tick, tock, tick tock, His life's seconds numbering: Tick, tock, tick, tock, It stopped short, never to go again, When the old man died. In watching its pendulum swing to and fro, Many hours he had spent as 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 at the door With a blooming and beautiful bride; But it stopped, short, never to go again, When the old man died. 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 stopped, short, never to go again, When the old man died. Source: Singing Together, Spring 1985, BBC Publications Notes: The booklet merely says 'America'. It was written by Henry Clay Work in 1876 and many dictionaries agree that Work's song is the source for the name "grandfather clock". | ||
| nutty | Posted - 26 Mar 06 - 08:00 pm | |
I believe the clock in question still stands in the George Hotel in Piercebridge, near Darlington, Co. Durham. | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 26 Mar 06 - 11:16 pm | |
Wikipedia article. As for the song, I used to like Gaffer Ferris' (a regular in N Wales folk clubs) version. I think it started with the clock being to tall so it laid many years on it's side. Anyway, they went through a series of schemes which involved cutting a hole in the ceiling to enable it to stand up. At one point they tried to use a mirror so they could see the clock face which led to a new problem and my favourite lines: As I'm sure that you'll agree. The image it was lateraly inverted. Wish I could remember the rest. | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 06 Jun 07 - 12:12 pm | |
The first edition is (1) or (2), neither of which has "my" in the title: (1) Title: Grand[-]Father's Clock. Song and Chorus. Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Words and Music by Henry C. Work. Publication: Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., 449 & 451 Washington Street, 1876. (2) Grandfather's clock / by Henry C. Work (New York: C. M. Cady, 1876). | ||
| jeff | Posted - 17 Jun 07 - 02:38 pm | |
There is a final verse which, if I remember aright, goes :- It gave an alarm in the still (?) of the night, an alarm which for years had been dumb/ And we knew that his spirit was preening for flight, that his hour of departure had come./ Still the clock kept time with a soft and steady chime as we silently stood at his side,/ Then it stopped etc | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 17 Jun 07 - 03:06 pm | |
Looking at the first edition linked to by masato sakuri, it seems to be: It rang an alarm in the dead of the night- An alarm that for years had been dumb. And we knew that his spirit was plumbing for flight- That his hour of departure had come. For it clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime, As we silently stood by his side. But it, etc. | ||