The Old Cottage Clock

1. That old, old clock of the household stock,
Was the brightest thing and neatest,
The hands, though old, had a touch of gold,
And its chimes sang still the sweetest,
’Twas a monitor too, though words were few,
Yet they lived through nations altered,
And its voice, still strong, warned old and young,
When the voice of friendship faltered.

Refrain 1
Tick, tick!
It said, Quick, quick to bed!
For ten I’ve given warning,
Up quickly and go, or surely you know,
You’ll never rise soon in the morning.

2. A friendly voice was that old, old clock,
As it stood in the corner smiling,
And blessed the time with a merry chime,
All the wintry hours beguiling.
But a peevish old voice had that tiresome clock
As it called at daybreak boldly,
When the dawn looked gray o’er the misty way,
And the air blew very coldly.

Refrain 2
Tick, tick!
It said, Quick, out of bed!
For five I’ve given warning,
You’ll never have health, you’ll never have wealth,
Unless you’re up soon in the morning.