The Tramps Dream - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
THE TRAMPS DREAM. Copyright, 1895, by H. W. Petrie. Words by Arthur Trevelyan. Music by H. W. Petrie. 
Shuffling along, shunned by the throng, there trudges a wretched old tramp: Hungry And worn, clothes in shreds torn, and still wild the morning dew dump; Now in the square he watches there the children who play with their toys: Soon his eyes close, sleep drowns his woes, he dreams of the past and its joys. 
Chorus. He was dreaming of the friend* of his childhood, Of the glad days he roamed thro' the wildwood. Of his boyhood sweetheart, and their little dog-cart, And the wild flowers that grew by the stream, Of the crime that had made him a drunkard, Of the two neglected graves in the church-yard, Of his mother's last kiss, and the joys he did miss, Were all pictured in the poor old tramp's dream. 
Startled he wakes, truth on him breaks- alas! it is only a dream. Pleasures ne'er last, past remains past, and dreams are the sole joys supreme. So he'll live on till life is gone-'tis too late to mend his had ways. still through regret he'll ne'er forget the dream of his once happy days.- Cho.