Hello, ole man, you're a-gittin' gray,
An' it beats ole Ned to see the way
'At the crow's feet's a-getherin' aroun' yore eyes;
Tho' it oughtn't to cause me no su'prise,
Fur there's many a sun 'at you've seen rise
An' many a one you've seen go down
Sence yore step was light an' yore hair was brown,
An' storms an' snows have had their way --
Hello, ole man, you're a-gittin' gray.

Hello, ole man, you're a-gittin' gray,
An' the youthful pranks 'at you ust to play
Are dreams of a far past long ago
That lie in a heart where the fires burn low --
That has lost the flame tho' it kept the glow,
An' spite of drivin' snow an' storm,
Beats bravely on forever warm.
December holds the place of May --
Hello, ole man, you're a-gittin' gray.

Hello, ole man, you're a-gittin' gray --
Who cares what the carpin' youngsters say?
For, after all, when the tale is told,
Love proves if a man is young or old!
Age cannot make the heart grow cold
When it does the will of an honest mind;
When it beats with love for all mankind;
An' the night but leads to a fairer day --
Hello, ole man, you're a-gittin' gray!