The old refrain
... F - C -
G - G7 - C
C F
C D
1. I often think of home, dee-ol-ee-ay,
G
G7 C
when
I am all alone and far away,
C F C D
I sing an old refrain,
dee-ol-ee-ay,
G G7
C
for
it recalls to me a bygone day.
D G
It takes me back again to
meadows fair,
E Am
where
sunlight's golden rays beam everywhere,
D G
my
childhood joys again come back to me,
Am D G
- G7
my
mother's face in fancy, too, I see.
C A Dm
- F
It was my mother taught me how
to sing,
C
- G C
and
to that memory my heart will cling,
C A
Dm - F
I'm never sad alone when on my
way,
C - G G7
C
as
long as I can sing, dee-ol-ee-ay.
+ F - C - G
- G7 - C
C F C
D
2. Though years have passed and gone, dee-ol-ee-ay,
G G7 C
although
my heart is young, my head is grey,
C F C D
yet
still the echoes ring, dee-ol-ee-ay,
G G7
C
and
dear old memories forever stay.
D G
My song can bring me visions
full of light,
E Am
and
sweetest dreams throughout the darkest night,
D G
of
all that life can give of summer’s best,
Am D G - G7
I'll take it with me when I go
to rest.
C A Dm
- F
And when at last my journey
here is o'er,
C - G C
'twill
ring more joyfully than e'er
before,
C A Dm
- F
when
up to heavens I will make my way,
C
- G G7
C
the
angels, too, will sing, dee-ol-ee-ay.
+ F - C - G
- G7 - C
(orig. = capo 3rd; Deanna Durbin = capo 5th) (Paddy Reilly)