There's a Long Long Trail A-Winding

I first heard this song on an episode of M*A*S*H, sung by Colonel Potter, Hawkeye and B.J. Turns out it's a World War I song, written by two classmates at Yale before the war really started (and years before Americans got involved).  I have the lyrics below, along with the music to listen to.  There is something sweet and pure about it that is so often lost in today's music.


There's a Long Long Trail A-Winding
Lyrics by Stoddard King
Music by Alonzo Elliott








Nights are getting very lonely, 
Days are very long,
I'm a-growing weary only, 
Listening for your song,
Old remembrances are thronging, 
Thro' my memory,
Till it seems, the world is full of dreams, 
Just to call you back to me.


     There's a long long trail a-winding 
     Into the land of my dreams,
     Where the nightingales are singing 
     And the white moon beams,
     There's a long long night a-waiting 
     Until my dreams all come true,
     Till the day when I'll be going down 
     That long long trail with you.


All night long I hear you calling, 
Calling sweet and low,
Seem to hear your footsteps falling, 
Ev'ry where I go,
Tho' the road between us stretches, 
Many's the weary mile,
I forget, that you're not with me yet, 
When I think I see you smile.


     There's a long long trail a-winding 
     Into the land of my dreams,
     Where the nightingales are singing 
     And the white moon beams,
     There's a long long night a-waiting 
     Until my dreams all come true,
     Till the day when I'll be going down 
     That long long trail with you.