The ToneWay® Project: helping people play music


Grandfather's Clock

My grandfather's 5 clock was too 1 large for the 4 shelf
So it 1 stood ninety 5 years on the 1 floor
It was taller by 5 half than the 1 old man him- 4 self
Though it 1 weighed not a 5 pennyweight 1 more
It was bought on the morn of the 4 day that he was 1 born
And was always his 2 treasure and 5 pride
But it 1 stopped 5 short, 1 Never to go a 4 gain
When the 1 old 5 man 1 died

Chorus
Ninety years without 4 slumber- 1 ing, (Tick, tock, tick, tock,)
His life seconds 4 number 1 ing, (Tick, tock, tick, tock,)
But it stopped 5 short, 1 Never to go a 4 gain
When the 1 old 5 man 1 died

In watching its pendulum swing to and fro
Many hours had he spent while a boy
And in childhood and manhood the clock seemed to know
And to share both his grief and his joy
For it struck twenty-four when he entered the door
With a blooming and beautiful bride
But it stopped short, Never to go again
When the old man died

My grandfather said, that of those he could hire
Not a servant so faithful he found
For it wasted no time, and had but one desire
At the close of each week to be wound
And it kept in its place, not a frown upon its face
And its hands never hung by its side
But it stopped short, Never to go again
When the old man died..

It rang an alarm in the dead of the night
An alarm that for years had been dumb
And we know that his spirit was pluming for flight
That his hour of departure had come
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft muffled chime
As we silently stood by his side
But it stopped short, Never to go again
When the old man died


A song from the The ToneWay Mountain Music Collection, which offers lyrics and free Song Clips (recordings for learning the song by ear) for nearly 400 traditional songs, many of which are often heard in bluegrass and old-time jam circles. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and a free online video series for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com