The Drunkard's Dream - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
THE DRUNKARD'S DREAM 
Why, Dermot, you look healthy, now your dress is neat and clean; I never see you drunk about, oh I tell where you've been; Your wife and family all are well, you once did use them strange. Oh! you are kinder to them; how came this happy change? 
It was a dream, a warning voice, which heaven sent to me, To snatch me from the drunkard's curse, grim want and misery; My wages all were spent In drink; oh! what a wretched view; I almost broke my Mary's heart, and starved my children, too. 
What was my home or wife to me? I heeded nov her sigh; Her patient smile has welcomed me when tears bedimmed her eye; My children too have oft awoke; "oh! father, dear," they've said, Poor mother has been weeping so because we've-had no bread. 
My Mary's form did waste away-I saw her sunken eye-On straw my babes in sickness laid-I heard their wailing cry; I laughed and sung in drunken joy, while Mary's tears did stream, Then like a beast I fell asleep-and had this warning dream: 
I thought once more I stagger'd home; there seemed a solemn gloom; I missed my wife, where can she be ? and strangers in the room. I heard them say, "Poor thing, she's dead, she led a wretched life, Grief and want have broken her heart; who'd be a drunkard's wife?" 
I saw my children weeping round; I scarcely drew my breath. They called and kissed her lifeless form, forever stilled in death. "Oh 1 father, come and wake her up, the people say she's dead, Oh I make her smile, and speak once more, we'll never cry for bread." 
"She Is not dead," I frantic cried, and rushed to where she lay, And madly kiss'd her once warm lips, forever cold as clay; "Oh ! Mary speak one word to me, no more I'll cause you pain, No more I'll grieve your loving heart, nor ever drink again." 
"Dear Mary speak, 'tis Dermot calls 1" " Why, so I do !" she cried; I woke, and true, my Mary dear was kneeling by my side; I press'd her to my throbbing heart, while joyous tears did stream, And ever since I've heaven bless'd for sending me that dream.