A song and chorus from 1879
Words and music by James Bland
The sheet music:
Lyrics
- Father’s growing old now
His limbs are weak and sore
And mamma has to guide him
As he walks across the floor
He says his days are numbered
And soon from us will part
Then what will good kind mamma do
I know ’twill break her heart
He says he saw the angels
And they whispered soft and low
They told him they were waiting
And he soon with them would go
They sang their plaintive carol
It filled him with delight
Then slowly from him faded
Bidding papa sweet goodnight
Chorus
Close the door softly, mamma, don’t weep
Papa is dreaming, so lay down to sleep
Dreaming of forms that are purest and bright
Angels will guard and protect him tonight
- Morning dawned with splendor
The sun shone clear and bright
The flowers seemed to sparkle
In the pretty golden light
And way down in the meadow
Where the grass was tall and green
The lambs would frolic merrily
Beside the flowing stream
But papa could not see them
For his spirit took its flight
The angles beckoned for him
And with then he went at night
He called me to his bedside
Before his soul had flown
And told me he was going
To that bright celestial home