Words by Sydney Grundy.
Originally published by Chappell & Co in 1894.
| This song was written for Grundy's play An Old Jew, described as "A Comedy in five acts", which opened at the Garrick Theatre, London on 6 January 1894. The play was not a success, but the Curtis Publishing Company were sufficiently impressed with the song to pay Sullivan £100 to include it in their magazine The Ladies' Home Journal. |  |
 MIDI File [13K, 2' 40"] |
 Score [5.9MB] |
'Tis twenty years since our last meeting,
Hush'd is anger, numb'd is pain;
Dead is love, and friendship's greeting
We shall ne'er exchange again.
Time has sped, and time effaces,
Mem'ries faint and fainter grow,
Fast and faster fade the traces
Of the long ago.
Across the tears of twenty years,
Far or nigh,
Bid me good-bye,
Tho' fate sever us for ever.
Bid me at least good-bye,
Good-bye!
Oh! was my folly past forgiving,
Was the sequel joy or woe?
Art thou dead, or art thou living?
Even this I do not know.
Even now I sit and wonder
Thou couldst ever leave me so;
Silent still, though torn asunder,
Twenty years ago;
Across the tears of twenty years,
Far or nigh,
Bid me good-bye,
E'en if living, unforgiving,
Bid me at least good-bye,
Good-bye!
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Page Created 18 April 2004