Stephen Foster — Ah May the Red Rose Live Alway

Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon the earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die? Lending a charm to every ray That falls on her cheeks of light Giving the zephyr kiss for kiss And nursing the dewdrop bright Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon the earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die? Long may the daisies dance the field Frolicking far and near Why should the innocent hide their heads? Why should the innocent fear? Spreading their petals in mute delight When morn in its radiance breaks Keeping a floral festival Till the night-loving primrose wakes Long may the daisies dance the field Frolicking far and near Why should the innocent hide their heads? Why should the innocent fear? Lulled be the dirge in the cypress bough That tells of departed flowers Ah! that the butterfly's gilded wing Fluttered in evergreen bowers! Sad is my heart for the blighted plants Its pleasures are aye as brief They bloom at the young year’s joyful call And fade with the autumn leaf Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon the earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die?


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