(By Charles Fenno Hoffman, and sung by Henry Sibley in the 1850s.)
Heritage Songbook Text:
Sparkling and bright, in its liquid light
Is the water in our glasses.
'Twill give you health, 'twill give you wealth,
Ye lads and rosy lasses.
Chorus:
Oh, then resign our ruby wine,
Each smiling son and daughter,
There's nothing so good for the youthful blood,
Or sweet as the sparkling water.
Oh, then resign our ruby wine,
Each smiling son and daughter,
There's nothing so good for the youthful blood,
Or sweet as the sparkling water.
Better than gold is the water cold,
From the crystal fountain flowing,
A calm delight both day and night,
To happy homes bestowing.
Hoffman's original text:
Sparkling and bright in liquid light
Does the wine our goblets gleam in,
With hue as red as rosy bed
Which a bee would choose to dream in.
Then fill to-night with hearts as light,
To loves as gay and fleeting
As bubbles that swim on the beaker's brim,
And break on the lips while meeting.
O! if Mirth might arrest the flight
Of Time through Life's dominions,
We here awhile would now beguile
The graybeard of his pinions,
To drink to-night with hearts as light,
To loves as gay and fleeting
As bubbles that swim on the beaker's brim,
And break on the lips while meeting.
But since delight can't tempt the wight,
Nor fond regret delay him,
Nor Love himself can hold the elf,
Nor sober Friendship stay him,
We'll drink to-night with hearts as light,
To loves as gay and fleeting
As bubbles that swim on the beaker's brim,
And break on the lips while meeting.
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