A little while ago I returned from the seventh procedure to treat the wet macular degeneration in my left eye. As regular readers know, the treatment involves an injection into the middle of the eye. Afterwards I’m not much good for the rest of the day, so posting may be light this evening. There will, however, be a news feed.

When I began the long drive home, the following tune started playing in my head. I don’t know if it was the fact that all the recent abuse of my eyes had caused a lot of tearing, or the fact that I had made a Stephen Foster reference in my post earlier today.

In any case, here’s a rendition by the “The Celtic Tenors” of my favorite song by Stephen Foster:

The complete original lyrics (1854) are below the jump:

Hard Times Come Again No More
by Stephen Foster

Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh hard times come again no more.

Chorus:

’Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh hard times come again no more.

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh hard times come again no more.

Chorus

There’s a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o’er:
Though her voice would be merry, ’tis sighing all the day,
Oh hard times come again no more.

Chorus

’Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
’Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore
’Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave
Oh hard times come again no more.

Chorus