Thanks for the post 12 Stringer!

Happiest Days of All is usually titled "Gathering Shells From the Seashore." The song is by Will Thompson in 1975. Otto Gray's band did the first recording in 1930, the Carters did theirs in 1932.

There's a good article from 1906 here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=f_bCmZUgDIcC&pg=PA297&dq=Gathering+Shells+From+the+Seashore&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html


THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF ALL
Carter Family- Original

I wandered today on the seashore
The waves and the winds are low
I thought of the days that are gone by, ma
Many long years ago

We lingered by the gently flowing billows
And watched the golden sunset fade away
And there among the sweet ocean breezes
We talked about our future wedding day

    Gathering up the shells from the seashore
    Gathering up the shells from the sea
    Those were the happiest days of all, ma
    Gathering up the shells from the shore
   [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

When the waves are rolling on the ocean
And the golden moonbeams on the pebbles shine
At your cottage by the sea I'll come again, ma
When the waves are rolling gentle, sweetheart mine

Now I am growing up in years, ma
My locks are all silver and gray
But the vows that we made on the shore, ma
Are fresh in my memory today

    Gathering up the shells from the seashore
    Gathering up the shells from the sea
    Those were the happiest days of all, ma
    Gathering up the shells from the shore
    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

No more bright shells we will gather
As the waves come dashing as of yore
She lies 'neath the white pebbled sand
Just covered up with shells on the shore

    Gathering up the shells from the seashore
    Gathering up the shells from the sea
    Those were the happiest days of all, ma
    Gathering up the shells from the shore