The Voices That Are Gone

When the twilight shades fall o`er me,
And the evning star appears,
Mem`ry brings the past before me,
Joys and sorrows, smiles and tears;
Then again bright eyes are gleaming
With the love once in them shone,
Then like music heard When dreaming,
Come the voices that are gone.
Once again bright eyes are gleaming
With the light that in them shone,
Then like music heard when dreaming,
Come the voices that are gone.

Sweet as wood dove`s note when calling
To her mate as night draws on,
Soft as snow flake lightly fallin
come the voices that are gone.
Voices heard in days of childhood
Softly at the hour of prayer,
Or loud ringing through the wildwood
When the young heart knew no care.
Once again bright eyes are gleaming
With the light that in them shone,
Then like music heard when dreaming,
Come the voices that are gone.

So when life´s bright sun is setting
And its day is well nigh done,
May there be no vain regretting
Over mem`ries O would shun;
But when death is o`er, to meet me
May some muchlov`d forms come on,
And the first sounds that shall greet me
Be the voices that were gone!
Once again bright eyes are gleaming
With the light that in them shone,
Then like music heard when dreaming,
Come the voices that are gone.

By: Stephen Collins Foster