Lyr. Add: AH! MAY THE RED ROSE LIVE ALWAY!
Stephen Collins Foster, 1850

Ah! may the red rose live alway,
To smile upon earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?
Lending a charm to ev'ry 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 always,
To smile upon 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 in 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 always,
To smile upon earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?

One of Foster's most beautiful melodies, seldom heard.
Midi or MP3
http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/foster001.htm
Foster Music Collection