I hear the distant echo
of a song I knew before,
it hovers o'er the river
I swam in days of yore,
when enclosed me only sunshine
and all the world was mine,
'fore penury got its grip on me
in the dark'ning veil of time

I hear the distant echo
of a song I knew before,
it plays in attic treasure chests
my mind loved to explore,
when diamond chips and pirate ships
abounded on the main,
'fore my childhood dreams cried mutiny
now no mystery remains

I hear the distant echo
of a song I knew before,
it swings on oak tree pendulums
I tied before the war
'tween a young boy's dreams of flying
and an old man's hopes of dying,
and with time's speed multiplying
'til the clock tic tocs no more

I hear the distant echo
of a song I knew before,
so I'll ramble on
and sing my song
and regard not nevermore