Shells Of Ocean - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
SHELLS OF OCEAN. 
One Summer eve, with pensive thought, I wandered on the sea-beat shore. Where oft, in heedless infant sport, I gathered shells in days before-Where oft, in heedless infant sport, I gathered shells in days before. 
The splashing waves like music fell, Responsive to my fancy wild, A dream came o'er me like a spell, I thought I was again a child-A dream came o'er me like a spell, I thought I was again a child. 
I stood upon the pebbly strand, To cull the toys that 'round me lay. But as I took them in my hand, I threw them one by one away-But as I took them in my hand, I threw them one by one away. 
"Oh, thus," I said, "in every stage. By toys our fancy is beguiled. We gather shells from youth to age. And then we leave them like a child -We gather shells from youth to age. And then we leave them like a child."