The Boys of Long Ago

When I go down to Gungawamp,

     As now and then I do,

I run across some good old chap

     Whom long ago I knew.

And he will want to stop and talk,

     And pass the time o’ day,

And ask how I have got along

     Since I have gone away.

“Uv course” says he, “yew understand

     I ain’t a-nosin’ round

Inquirin’ intew yeour affairs,

     But Bill, I’ll jest be bound,

I’d kinder like to know how much

     Yeou’ve made; uv course, yew know

We’re interested in the boys

     Thet lived here long ago.”

Another one will “hem” and “haw”,

     And say, “Bill is it true

Thet yew hev trouble with yeour wife,

     Ez people say yew dew?

Uv course, I ain’t a-meddlin’, Bill,

     I jest wanted to know;

Becuz we’re interested in

     Our boys uv long ago.”

And Aunt Eliza, good old soul,

     She meets me on the street,

Then confidential like she says,

     ‘Tain’t true, Bill, what they say,

Yeour wife goes out ter work ter help

     Her husband pay his way?

“Uv course,” they add, “it’s jest becuz

     We’re interested, Bill,

An’ not becuz we’re curious,

     ‘Cuz yew’re one of us still.”

I like to go to Gungawamp

     And meet the friends I know;

They are so interested in

     Their boys of long ago.

Feb. 4, ‘07