As you walk down the street – how often do you meet

Some poor man whose life has life had grown old?

His aged form is bent – in his pocket not a cent

And for shelter knows not where to go



See that poor old wreck of toil – his children him do 

shun

To die I’m sure he has prayed

For himself and dear wife after toilin’ all their lives

Find they’re old and only in the way



Chorus

So let us cheer them on – they won’t be with us long

Don’t laugh because they’re old and gray

Just remember while you’re young that for you the time 

will come

When you’re old and only in the way



Now my message, I’m sure, is for the rich as well as 

poor

Take a rich man when he’s growin’ old

His relations ‘round him stand – and they take him by the 

hand

They want him to die – they want his gold.



All through life he has enjoyed all the things that 

gold can buy

But gold – his life could not save.

After all he’s like the poor when his journey’s nearly 

o’re

‘Find he’s old and only in the way



Chorus

So let us cheer them on – they won’t be with us long

Don’t laugh because they’re old and gray

Just remember while you’re young that for you the time 

will come

When you’re old and only in the way

When you’re old and only in the way