I Have an Aged Mother

[Verse 1] Last night while I lay sleeping Last night while in a dream I saw my dear old mother Down by a misting stream Don't ask me why I'm weeping Don't ask me why I pray For I've an aged mother Ten thousand miles away A letter here from sister dear Come home we're all alone Dear mother's slowly fading She can't be living long [Chorus] Well, ah-le-ho, le-ho-lay Well, ah-le-ho, le-ho-lay Out in the cold world Left all alone [Verse 2] I'm drawing near the old home Dear sister's at the gate She's leading me through the doorway Oh brother you've come to late Oh lead me to the casket Through back the linen so fine That I may kiss her pale white lips For I know they'll never kiss mine I see the pale moon shining On mother's whitened stone The rose buds round them twining Are just me all alone [Chorus]