Grandfather's Clock

Source Recording Artist: Doc Watson

Album: My Dear Old Southern Home (1991)

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Song Details

Title: Grandfather's Clock

Alternate Titles: My Grandfather's Clock

Songwriter(s):

Henry Clay Work

First Release: Edison Male Quartette (1905)

Themes: Death and Mourning

Other Genres: Folk, Old Time

Source Recording Details

Band/Artist:

Doc Watson

Key: G

Time Signature: Boom-Chuck

Tempo (BPM): 94

Track Length: 3:23

Musicians:

Lead Singer:

Guitar:

Audio/Video Recordings

Grandfather's Clock

1 5 1 4
My Grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf
1 5 1
So it stood ninety years on the floor
5 1 4
It was taller by half than the old man himself
1 5 1
though it weighed not a penny’s weight more
 

1 4 1
It was bought on the morn’ that my grandpa was born
2 5
And was always his treasure and pride
1 5 1 4
But it stopped short never to go again
1 5 1
When the old man died
 

1 4 1
Ninety years without slumbering
4 1
His life seconds numbering
1 5 1 4
But it stopped short never to go again
1 5 1
When the old man died
 

At watching its pendulum swing to and fro
Many hours he had spent as a boy
As he grew into manhood, the clock seemed to know
For it shared every sorrow and joy

And it struck 24 as he entered the door
With his beautiful and blushing bride
But it stopped short, never to go again
When the old man died

My Grandfather said that of those he could hire
Not a servant so faithful he’d found
For it wasted no time and had but one desire
At the close of each week to be wound

Yes it kept in its place not a frown upon its face
And its hands never hung by its side
But it stopped short never to go again
When the old man died

It rang an alarm in the dead of the night
An alarm that for years had been dumb
And we knew that his spirit was blooming for flight
That his hour for departure had come

Still the clock kept the time with a soft and muffled chime
As we silently stood by his side
But it stopped short never to go again
When the old man died

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