John McCormack Silver Threads Among The Gold

"Silver Threads Song Traced to Poets Re-Hash on Order" Shiockton, Wis. (AP).—The love ballad, Silver Threads Among the Gold, which has stirred the hearts of more than one generation, was not the inspiration of an aging poet but a re-hash produced on order. The story developed after the unveiling of a monument here in honor of the author of the words, Eben E. Rexford, who died in 1916. Rexford made a living by writing verse and flower and garden articles for magazines. When he was 18, he wrote and sold for $3 some verses entitled Growing Old. Later, H. P. Danke, composer of the music for Silver Threads, wrote to him requesting words for a song. Rexford dug into his scrapbook and revised Growing Old.

Lyrics:
Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold,
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away.
But, my darling, you will be, will be
Always fair to me,
Yes, my darling, you will be
Always young and fair to me.
Chorus:
Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold,
Shine upon my brow today;
Life is fading fast away.
When your hair is silver white,
And your cheeks no longer bright,
With the roses of the May,
I will kiss your lips and say,
Oh! My darling, mine alone, alone,
You have never older grown!
Yes, my darling, mine alone,
You have never older grown!
chorus
Love can never more grow old,
Locks may lose their brown and gold;
Cheeks may fade and hollow grow,
But the hearts that love will know,
Never, never winters frost and chill;
Summer warmth is in them still;
Never winters frost and chill,
Summer warmth is in them still.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• McCormack
• Silver
• Threads
• Among
• The
• Gold

[dinastein44]

Isn't he amazing? By today's standards this song is rather schmalzy and sentimental. Yet he raises it to a pearl.

[perumnx]

Thankyou so much, patriot4913........absolutely beatiful

[redoler]

Truly sublime.

Thanks for posting.

[bumablebee]

why do some morons have to talk such rubbish he wants his mouth washing out with carbolic as for me I used to hear my mother sing such lovely songs and it was a wonderful thing to listen once more to such a wonderful singer and these old songs bless you for bringing back wonderful memories Gordon

[lazyitus]

i looked up this song because of a billy the kid book. nice song.

[TheUBIQUITOUS12]

@frantor1937 Well said.The insult to your grandfather was truly disgusting.How on earth can UTube allow such obscenities to be published?

[frantor1937]

I am the proud Daughter of frantor1937 and have full access to his computer

services. I wondered why, he has recently lost interest in using the net.

Now I know why this 75 year old Gentleman (and a gentle man) has taken this so badly. Petertowend whoever you are ,why do you feel that you have the right to insult my beloved Grandma. Go back and crawl under your stone !!

[HistorySingers]

@neilx49 Apparently the song was first published in 1873 and sold two million copies of sheet music and then in 1907, during its revival, it sold another million copies so that seems to fit perfectly with your grandparents' story. Beautiful story, thanks for sharing!!

[HistorySingers]

Whoops, I mean this "guy" not "guys." Wish I could find the delete button. :)

[HistorySingers]

I just wrote a blog post on the origin of this song and was thrilled to find this recording, thanks very much!! Apparently this guys was a real crooner in his day!

[TC1931]

lovely thanks for other suggestions . all that i have loved for 60 years