I sat down to suppertime on my way to the by and by
Chopping wood and drinking wine
So early in the morning
Oh, now the summer cools
Autumn played me for a fool
I chased a hart on the hunting ground
So early in the morning
I'm an old man in the gloaming
Sky put on your darkened coat
Sailor, fly your starry boat
Throw out all the lines you wrote
So early in the morning
The tide has run back to the sea
Drunks are down upon their knees
Oh, life was good to me
So early in the morning
I'm an old man in the gloaming
Just another brother, fallen
My true love wore a silver ring
The honeybee gave me his sting
Strange how it all comes back to me
So late in the evening
The tide has run back to the sea
Drunks are crying, "Jesus, please!"
Oh, life was good to me
So early in the morning
I'm an old man in the gloaming
Just like my brother, fallen