Forty Years Ago

I wandered to the village, Tom
and 4 sat beneath the 1 tree
Upon the schoolhouse playing ground
that sheltered you and 5 me
But 1 none were left to greet me, Tom
and 4 few were left to 1 know
Who played with us upon that green
just 5 forty years 1 ago

The spring still bubbles beneath the hill
close by the spreading beech
It's very low, 'twas once so high
that I could scarcely reach
Then kneeling down to take a drink
dear Tom, I started so
To see how very much I'd changed
since forty years ago

Close by the spring upon the elm
you know I cut your name
Your sweetheart just beneath it, Tom
and you did mine the same
Some heartless wretch has peeled the bark
it's dying sure but slow
Just as the ones whose name I cut
just forty years ago

Some now are in the churchyard laid
some sleep beneath the sea
But none are left of our old class
excepting you an' me
An' when our time does come, dear Tom
an' we are called to go
I hope they lay us where we played
just forty years ago