We Have Been Friends Together

We have been friends together,

In sunshine and in shade,

Since first beneath the chestnut trees

In infancy we played.

But coldness dwells within thy heart—

A cloud is on thy brow;

We have been friends together—

Shall a light word part us now?

We have been gay together;

We have laughed at little jests:

For the fount of hope was gushing,

Warm and joyous, in our breasts.

But laughter now hath fled thy lip,

And sullen glooms thy brow:

We have been gay together—

Shall a light word part us now?

We have been sad together—

We have wept, with bitter tears,

O'er the grass-grown graves, where slumbered

The hopes of early years.

The voices which are silent there

Would bid thee clear thy brow;

We have been sad together—

Oh! what shall part us now?