After The Ball

A little maiden climbed an old man's knee
Begs for a story "Do, uncle, please!"
Why are you lonely why do you roam?
Have you no sweetheart have you no home?"
"I had a sweetheart, long long ago
Why we were not wed, you will soon know
List to my story, I'll tell it all
I broke her heart then, after the ball"
After the ball is over
Just at the break of dawn
After the dance is ended
And all the stars are gone
Many's the heart tha'ts aching
If you could read them all
Many the hopes that's vanished
After the ball.

Low lights were shining in the big ballroom
Softly the organ was playing the tunes
There stood my sweetheart, my love, my own
I wished some water; leave me alone
When I returned, pet, there stood a man
Kissing my sweetheart, as lovers can
Down went the glass, pet, broken the fall
Just like heart was, after the ball.

After the ball is over.

Many years have gone by, I've have not wed
True to my first love, though she is dead
She tried to tell me, tried to explain
I would not listen, pleading in vain
One day a letter came from this man
He was her brother - the letter ran
That's why I'm lonely, no home at all
I broke her heart then after the ball."

After the ball is over.