Sweethearts is one of the three songs with words by W. S. Gilbert and music by Sullivan which were written independently of the operas, the other two being The Distant Shore and The Love that Loves me Not. The song tells the story of Gilbert's play of the same name and was published both as a solo and as a duet. Chappell & Co., also published Charles D'Albert's Sweethearts Waltz "on Arthur Sullivan's popular song" in 1875.

MIDI File [26K, 3' 53"]

Score [625K]

"Oh take this flow'r, dear love," said he,
He spake with a fearful sigh.
That night he was going across the sea,
And this was his last good-bye,
And this was his last good-bye.
She took the gift with a mocking smile,
In the flush of her maiden pride,
With heartless guile she dallied awhile,
Then threw the flow'r aside,
Then threw the flow'r aside.

Oh, love for a year, a week, a day,
But alas for the love that loves alway;
Oh, love for a year, a week, a day,
But alas for the love that loves alway.

Give me a flow'r, dear love, said he, She threw the flow'r he craved, Now by the love that I have for thee, My breaking heart is saved, My breaking heart is saved. He kiss'd it once with a tender sigh, And treasured it near his heart, Tho' years roll by, this flow'r and I Shall never, never part, Shall never, never part. Oh, love for a year, a week, a day, But alas for the love that loves alway; Oh, love for a year, a week, a day, But alas for the love that loves alway.

They met again in the after years,
In life's sad sorrowful time;
Their heads were heavy with age and tears,
And white with the winter rime.
He found the flow'r she scorn'd in play,
At her faithful heart did dwell;
His flow'r, they say, He had cast away
Before its petals fell.

Oh, love for a year, a week, a day,
But alas for the love that loves alway;
Oh, love for a year, a week, a day,
But alas, alas for the love that loves alway.

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