A little maiden climbed an old man's knee,
Begged 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
shall know. List to my story, I'll tell it all.
I broke her heart, pet, 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 the heart that's aching, if you could read them all.
Many the fond hope that's vanished, after the ball.

Her eyes were shining, in the big ballroom,
Softly the organ was playing a tune.
There stood my sweetheart, my love, my own
Wishing some water, I left the room.

When I returned, pet, there stood a man
Kissing my sweetheart, as lovers can.
Down went the glass, pet, broke in the fall,
Just as 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 the heart that's aching, if you could read them all.
Many the fond hope that's vanished, after the ball.

Many years have gone by; I have not wed -
True to my sweetheart, though 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 ran.
That's why I'm lonely, no home at all -
I broke her heart, pet, 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 the heart that's aching, if you could read them all.
Many the fond hope that's vanished, after the ball.

Charles K. Harris