The 'Old, Old Song'

by Charles Kingsley

When all the world is young, lad,
      And all the trees are green;
And every goose a swan, lad,
      And every girl a queen;
Then hey for boot and horse, lad,
      And round the world away;
Young blood must have its course, lad,
      And every dog his day.

When all the world is old, lad,
      And all the trees are brown;
And all the sport is stale, lad,
      And all the wheels run down;
Creep home and take your place there,
      The spent and maimed among;
God grant you find one face there
      You loved when all was young.