At the Music Hall: Love's Old Sweet Song (Just a Song at Twilight), 1884

Once in the dear dead days beyond recall
When on the world the mists began to fall,
Out of the dreams that rose in happy throng,
Low to our hearts love sang an old sweet song,
And in the dusk where fell the firelight gleam,
Softly it wove itself into our dream.


CHORUS:


Just a song at twilight
When lights are low
And the flick'ring shadows
Softly come and go.
Tho' the heart be weary
Sad the day and long
Still to us at twilight
Comes love's old song.
Comes love's old sweet song.


Even today we hear love's song of yore
Deep in our hearts it dwells forevermore
Footsteps may falter, weary grow the way,
Still we can hear it at the close of day,
So till the end when life's dim shadows fall
Love will be found the sweetest song of all.


CHORUS:


Just a song at twilight
When lights are low
And the flick'ring shadows
Softly come and go.
Tho' the heart be weary
Sad the day and long
Still to us at twilight
Comes love's old song.
Comes love's old sweet song.

This popular song features words by J. Clifton Binghamton and music by James Lynam Molloy (1837-1909) who was born in Cornalour, Rahan, Ireland, to a wealthy Family. He studied in Dublin, Paris, and Bonn and, in 1872 became a lawyer.

Molloy married and moved to England where continued his hobby of writing songs. In 1884, he wrote what would remain his most popular song, in fact, one of the most popular Irish songs ever-- "Love's Old Sweet Song." John McCormack's recording (see below) is perhaps the best-known version.