(Side by side and silent--eagerly they stand--
Souls look out of tired eyes, hands are clasped
together,
Through the thrilling softness of the late spring
weather,
All a city slum is out to listen to the band.)
Young love and Maytime, hear the joyous strain,
Listen to a serenade written long ago!
You will recognize the song--you who care must
know
Fear that blends with happiness, joy that touches
pain.
Rabbi with the grizzled beard hear adventure's story!
Hear the tale the music tells, thrilling with ro-
mance,
Hear the clatter of a sword, hear a broken lance
Falling from some hero's hand, red with blood-
stained glory.
(Tenements on either side, light-flecked in the gloam-
ing,
Tenements on either side, stark and tall and gray--
Ah, the folk who line your halls wander far away,
All a crowded city slum is a-gypsie roaming!)
Woman with the brooding gaze, hear the lilting
laughter
Of the children that you loved, feel their soft-
lipped kisses;
Think of all the little joys that a hard world
misses-
What though bitter loneliness always follows after?
Gangster with the shifty eyes, listen to the sighing
Of the hymn tune that you heard at your mother's
knee;
Listen to the restless ghost of the used-to-be,
Listen to a wistful ghost's empty-hearted crying.
(Tenements on either side--menacing they stand--
Light-flecked in the softness of the late spring
weather....
But young love and broken life are standing close
together,
And all a city slum is out to listen to the band.)