From the musical “Ladies First”, 1918
Words and music by Nora Bayes, Irving Fisher and Harry Akst
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Tom Venam:
Lyrics
Let me put my arms close around you
Dear, I am so glad I have found you
I had almost ceased to be
Quite sure that you would come to me
All my dreams have been full of yearning
For the day when fortune in turning
Would send you to me
Always to be close
Oh, so close to my heart
Refrain
All my life I’ve waited for this
Just to feel the touch of your kiss
Just to be true to someone like you
It seems I’ve been waiting for ages and ages
Waiting, waiting, so patiently
Just to hold you close, dear, to me
Just to be true to someone like you
I have been waiting for this
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: