George W. Johnson and James Austin Butterfield)



Verse 1

I wander'd today to the hill, Maggie,

To watch the scene below;

The creek and the old rusty mill, Maggie,

Where we sat in the long, long ago.

The green grove is gone from the hill, Maggie,

Where first the daisies sprung;

The creaking old mill is still, Maggie,

Since you and I were young.



Chorus:

And now we are aged and gray, Maggie,

And the trials of life nearly done;

But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie,

When you and I were young.



Verse 2

A city so silent and lone, Maggie,

Where the young and the gay and the best,

In polished white mansions of stone, Maggie,

Have each found a place of rest,

Is built where the birds used to play, Maggie,

And join in the songs that were sung;

For we sang as gay as they, Maggie,

When you and I were young.



Verse 3

They say I am feeble with age, Maggie,

My steps are less sprightly than then;

My face is a well-written page, Maggie,

But time alone was the pen.

They say we are aged and gray, Maggie,

As spray by the white breakers flung;

But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie

When you and I were young.

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Published 1866, now in public domain

Source verse 3:

The Fireside Book of Favorite American Songs, p.183.

"The song is a true story of Maggie Clark, who lived

in Canada and was courted by her schoolteacher,

George W. Johnson." (there is more,ref.-HH14