The Husbands Dream - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
THE HUSBANDS DREAM. 
Why, Dermot, you look healthy, now your dress is neat and clean, I never see you drunk about, on. tell me where you've been; Your wife and family all are well, you once did use them strange, Oh, you are kinder to them now, how came the happy change? 
It was a dream, a wanting voire, which heaven sent to me. To snatch me from a drunkard's curse, grim want and misery; My wages were all 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 not 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 I once more staggered home, there seemed a solemn gloom, I missed my wife, where can she be? and strangers in the room; Then I heard them say: Poor thing, she's dead, she led a wretched life, Grief And want has 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, father, come and wake her up, the people say she's dead. Oh, 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 kissed her once warm lips, forever cold as clay; Oh, Mary, speak once more 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. Why, so I do! she cried, I awoke, and true, my Mary, dear, was kneeling at my side; I pressed her to my throbbing heart, while joyous tears did stream, And ever since I've heaven blessed for sending me that dream.