by John Gay (1685 - 1732)

Language: English 
Youth's the season made for joys;
Love is then our duty.
She alone who that employs
Well deserves her beauty.
Let's be gay while we may
Drink and sport yet today;
Let's be gay 
while we may,
Beauty's a flow'r despis'd in decay.

Let us drink and sport today;
Ours is not tomorrow.
Love with youth flies swift away,
Age is naught but sorrow.
Let's be gay, 
Dance and sing;
Let's be gay,
Time's on the wing,
Dance and sing,
Time's on the wing,
Life never knows the return of spring.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

  • by John Gay (1685 - 1732), Air XXII from The Beggar's Opera, first published 1728

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 79