SWEET SUMMER'S GONE AWAY. Words, George Cooper. Music, Harry De Roe. Sedalia, MO: A. W. Perry & Son, 1882.
1. There's a purple tint on the woodland leaves and the winds are up all day. There's a rustling heard in the yellow sheaves: "Sweet summer has gone away." In the wrinkled brook, no roses peep, and the bees no longer stray, And the butterflies have gone to sleep. The locust trills all day.
CHORUS: Sweet summer time has gone away. Sweet summer time will return, will return. Warm is the heart through the winter day, Though summer time has gone.
2. On the browning hills, the spider spins where the lambs no longer play, And the cricket now his chirp begins: "Sweet summer has gone away." There's a loving face at the window clear, though the skies are chill and grey, And a cozy home-nest all the year, sweet kisses ev'ry day.
[Mac Wiseman's recording of this song appears on two albums: "Lost Album" and "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered: Complete Recordings 1951-1946." However, according to Allmusic.com, the authors credited there are Benjamin F. Logan Jr. and Mac Wiseman. I have listened to a couple of sound samples, and the 4 lines I heard agree almost perfectly with the above lyrics.]