Oh how can it be they have driven Their father so helpless and old Oh God may their crimes be forgiven To perish out here in the cold I'm old I'm helpless and feeble And the days of my youth have gone by And it's over the hill to the poor house I must wander alone there to die Long years since Mary was taken My faithful affectionate wife Since then I've been alone and forsaken The light has died out of my life I'm old I'm helpless and feeble And the days of my youth have gone by And it's over the hill to the poor house I must wander alone there to die I gave them the house they were born in A deed to the farm and more I gave them the place that they lived on And now I am turned from it's door Oh me on the doorstep up yonder I've set with my babe's on my knee No father so happy or fonder Than I of my little ones three