A little maiden, climbs an old man's knee
Begs for a story, do uncle please
Why are you lonely, why do you roam
Have you no sweetheart, have you no home
I had a sweetheart, long long ago
Why we were not wed, you soon will know
List'to my story, I'll tell it all
I broke her heart then, after the ball
After the ball is over, just at the break of dawn
After the dance is ended, and all the stars are gone
Many's the heart that's aching, if you could reach them all
Many's the fond hope that's vanished, after the ball
Low lights were shining, in the big ballroom
Softly the organ was playing a tune
There stood my sweetheart, my love, my own
I wished some water, leaving the room
When i returned there, there stood a man
Kissing my sweetheart, as lovers can
Down went the glass and broke in a fall
Just like my heart was after the ball
After the ball is over, just at the break of dawn
After the dance is ended, and all the stars are gone
Many's the heart that's aching, if you could reach them all
Many's the fond hope that's vanished, after the ball
Many years have gone by, i have not wed
Due to my first love, tough she is dead
She tried to tell me, tried to explain
I would not listen, pleading in vain
One day a letter, came from this man
He was her brother, the letter end
That's why I'm lonely, no home at all
I broke her heart then after the ball
After the ball is over, just at the break of dawn
After the dance is ended, and all the stars are gone
Many's the heart that's aching, if you could reach them all
Many's the fond hope that's vanished,
after the ball Many's the fond hope that's vanished, after the ball
