My love was swift and slender As an antelope at play, And her eyes were gray and tender As the east at break o' day, And I sure was shaky hearted And her flower face was pale On that silver night we parted, When I sang along the trail: @3Forever—forever— Oh, moon above the pine, Like the matin' birds in Springtime, I will twitter while you shine. Rich as ore with gold a-glowin', Sweet as sparklin' springs a-flowin', Strong as redwoods ever growin', So will be this love o' mine.@1 I rode across the river And beyond the far divide, Till the echo of "forever" Staggered faint behind and died. For the long trail smiled and beckoned And the free wind blowed so sweet, That life's gayest tune, I reckoned, Was my hawse's ringin' feet. @3Forever—forever— Oh, stars, look down and sigh, For a poison spring will sparkle And the trustin' drinker die. And a rovin' bird will twitter And a worthless rock will glitter And the maiden's love is bitter When the man's is proved a lie.@1 Last the rover's circle guidin' Brought me where I used to be, And I met her, gaily ridin' With a smarter man than me. Then I raised my dusty cover But she didn't see nor hear, So I hummed the old tune over, Laughin' in my hawse's ear: @3Forever—forever— Oh, sun, look down and smile If the snowflake specks the desert Or the yucca blooms awhile. Ay! what gloom the mountain covers Where the driftin' cloud shade hovers! Ay! the trail o' parted lovers, Where "forever" lasts a mile!@1 |