The fields of youth are filled with flowers,
    The wine of youth is strong:
What need have we to count the hours?
    The summer days are long.
  But soon we find to our dismay
      That we are drifting down
  The barren slopes that fall away
      Towards the foothills grim and grey
  That lead to Old Man’s Town.
  And marching with us on the track
      Full many friends we find:
  We see them looking sadly back
      For those that dropped behind.
  But God forbid a fate so dread  -
       Alone to travel down
  The dreary road we must tread,
      With faltering steps and whitening head
  The road to Old Man’s Town.