My love was swift and slender

As an antelope at play,

And her eyes were gray and tender

As the east at break o' day,

And I sure was shaky hearted

And her flower face was pale

On that silver night we parted,

When I sang along the trail:

Forever—forever—

Oh, moon above the pine,

Like the matin' birds in Springtime,

I will twitter while you shine.

Rich as ore with gold a-glowin',

Sweet as sparklin' springs a-flowin',

Strong as redwoods ever growin',

So will be this love o' mine.

I rode across the river

And beyond the far divide,

Till the echo of "forever"

Staggered faint behind and died.

For the long trail smiled and beckoned

And the free wind blowed so sweet,

That life's gayest tune, I reckoned,

Was my hawse's ringin' feet.

Forever—forever—

Oh, stars, look down and sigh,

For a poison spring will sparkle

And the trustin' drinker die.

And a rovin' bird will twitter

And a worthless rock will glitter

And the maiden's love is bitter

When the man's is proved a lie.

Last the rover's circle guidin'

Brought me where I used to be,

And I met her, gaily ridin'

With a smarter man than me.

Then I raised my dusty cover

But she didn't see nor hear,

So I hummed the old tune over,

Laughin' in my hawse's ear:

If the snowflake specks the desert

Or the yucca blooms awhile.

Ay! what gloom the mountain covers

Where the driftin' cloud shade hovers!

Ay! the trail o' parted lovers,

Where "forever" lasts a mile!