Though I am an old man br With my bones very brittle, br Though I am a poor old man br Worth very little, br Yet I suck at my long pipe br At peace in the sun, br I do not fret nor much regret br That my work is done. br br If I were a young man br With my bones full of marrow, br Oh, if I were a bold young man br Straight as an arrow, br And if I had the same years br To live once again, br I would not change their simple range br Of laughter and pain. br br If I were a young man br And young was my Lily, br A smart girl, a bold young man, br Both of us silly. br And though from time before I knew br She'd stab me with pain, br Though well I knew she'd not be true, br I'd love her again. br br If I were a young man br With a brisk, healthy body, br Oh, if I were a bold young man br With love of rum toddy, br Though I knew that I was spiting br My old age with pain, br My happy lip would touch and sip br Again and again. br br If I were a young man br With my bones full of marrow, br Oh, if I were a bold young man br Straight as an arrow, br I'd store up no virtue br For Heaven's distant plain, br I'd live at ease as I did please br And sin once again.