When You and I Were Young, Maggie

The classic song from the 1860s performed by Mark McNeil in a video presentation. See The Hamilton Spectator “Flashbacks” column at https://bit.ly/39nW0Xo to learn more about the sad story behind the song.

When You and I Were Young, Maggie

I wandered today to the hills, Maggie
To watch the scene below
The creek and the rusty old mill, Maggie
Where we used to go long ago.
The green grove is gone from the hill, Maggie
Where first the daisies sprung
The old rusty mill is still, Maggie
Since you and I were young.

A city so silent and lone, Maggie
Where the young and the gay and the best
In polished white mansion of stone, Maggie
Have each found a place of rest
Is built where the birds used to play, Maggie
And join the songs that were sung
For we sang just as gay as they, Maggie
When you and I were young.

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 grey, 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.

And now we are aged and grey, Maggie
The trials of life nearly done
Let us sing of the days that are gone, Maggie
When you and I were young.

Lyric by George Washington Johnson