when you walk along the street how often times you'll meet some poor old man whose life is fraught
with woe his back with ages bent in his pocket not a cent and for shelter he has nowhere to go
with relations by the score they'll turn him from the door they meet him on the street that pass him
by
when you ask them why they do they'll answer you and say he is poor he's old and only in the way
so let us cheer them all they won't be with us long don't quarrel with them because they're old
and gray
and remember
while you're young
old age to you will come
you'll be old
and gray
and only in the way
,

there was a time I hear when youth was not so queer, but since that time there's been an awful change
Young men of strength and might, their parents of youth, were the only ones that could help in the way they were made proud

they will strike if it happens every day it's nothing strange
take this poor wreck of toil his children he did spoil for death i'm sure of times he did pray
pray himself and faithful wife after toiling all their life to find
they're old and only in the way
so let us cheer them on they won't be with us long don't quarrel with them because they're old and
gray and remember while you're young old age to you will come you'll be old and gray
you'll be old and gray
and only in the way
you'll be old and gray and only in the way