Riley Farm-Rhymes

OLD OCTOBER

     Old October's purt' nigh gone,
     And the frosts is comin' on
     Little HEAVIER every day—
     Like our hearts is thataway!
     Leaves is changin' overhead
     Back from green to gray and red,
     Brown and yeller, with their stems
     Loosenin' on the oaks and e'ms;
     And the balance of the trees
     Gittin' balder every breeze—
     Like the heads we're scratchin' on!
     Old October's purt' nigh gone.

     I love Old October so,
     I can't bear to see her go—
     Seems to me like losin' some
     Old-home relative er chum—
     'Pears like sorto' settin' by
     Some old friend 'at sigh by sigh
     Was a-passin' out o' sight
     Into everlastin' night!
     Hickernuts a feller hears
     Rattlin' down is more like tears
     Drappin' on the leaves below—
     I love Old October so!

     Can't tell what it is about
     Old October knocks me out!—
     I sleep well enough at night—
     And the blamedest appetite
     Ever mortal man possessed,—
     Last thing et, it tastes the best!—
     Warnuts, butternuts, pawpaws,
     'Iles and limbers up my jaws
     Fer raal service, sich as new
     Pork, spareribs, and sausage, too.—
     Yit, fer all, they's somepin' 'bout
     Old October knocks me out!