'Tis not so many years ago, when as a boy I played,
Amid the scenes so dear to me, from morn 'til evening shade;
No place so dear to childhood days, as my old country home,
Until one day I said "goodbye" and went away to roam.
The old folks said, "God bless you, boy, and may you soon return,
Two broken hearts await you here, two souls will watch and yearn."
The years have come and gone away, no news from son at home,
No loving message to the boy, who went away to roam.

I wonder how the old folks are at home,
I wonder if they miss me while I roam,
I wonder if they pray for the boy that went away
And left his kind old parents all alone,
I hear the cattle lowing in the lane,
And see again the fields of golden grain;
I almost hear them sigh as they bade their boy goodbye,
I wonder how the old folks are at home.

This world grows weary day by day, I'm lonely and I'm sad,
I long again to see the scenes, I knew when but a lad;
To play with little brother as we whiled the hours away,
No thought had we of sorrow then, our hearts were light and gay.
I see again the old school-house, the church upon the hill,
The lane that leads to Grandma's house, is fresh in memory still;
A wandering boy alone tonight with thoughts of home sweet home,
Still wonders how the old folks are, this boy who went to roam.

I wonder how the old folks are at home,
I wonder if they miss me while I roam,
I wonder if they pray for the boy that went away
And left his kind old parents all alone,
I hear the cattle lowing in the lane,
And see again the fields of golden grain;
I almost hear them sigh as they bade their boy goodbye,
I wonder how the old folks are at home.