“Will You Love Me When I'm Old?”

Description

The singer repeatedly asks his true love if she will love him when he is old, tired, gray, etc.: "Life's morn will soon be waning And its evening bells be told, And my heart will know no sadness If you'll love me when I'm old."

Notes

The White Smith & Co sheet music lists the tune as by Fred Kenyon Jones; the Meyer music offers Ralph Roland. The tunes are different, and neither is the one I know (from Ed Trickett, I think), though the Roland tune looks closer.

A song entitled "Will You Love Me, Sweetheart, When I'm Old?" was published by A. J. Lamb and H. W. Petrie in 1895; I do not know if they are the same. - RBW

Broadsides

• LOCSheet, sm1877 03501, "Are you tired of me, darling?" Louis Meyer (Philadelphia), 1877 (tune); also sm1878 05722, "Are you tired of me, darling?" White, Smith & Co (Boston), 1878

Recordings

• Charles Brook & Charlie Turner, "Will You Love Me When I'm Old" (Columbia 15756-D, 1932; rec. 1931)
• Carter Family, "Are You Tired of Me Darling?" (Bluebird B-5956/Montgomery Ward M-4546, 1935)
• Bill Cox, "Are You Tired of Me Darling?" (Melotone [Canada] 45092, 1935) (Decca 5497, 1938)
• Earl McCoy & Jessie Brock, "Are You Tired of Me Darling?" (Columbia 15499-D, 1930; rec. 1929)
• Lester McFarland & Robert Gardner, "Are You Tired of Me Darling" (Brunswick 432, 1930; rec. 1927)
• Blind Jack Mathis, "Are You Tired of Me Darling?" (Bluebird B-4956, c. 1933)
• Aulton Ray, "Will You Love Me When I'm Old" (Gennett 6129, 1927)
• L. K. Reeder, "Will You Love Me When I'm Old" (OKeh 45026, c. 1926; rec. 1925)

References

1. Randolph 824, "Will You Love Me When I'm Old?" (1 text)
2. BrownIII 273, "Will You Love Me When I'm Old?" (1 text plus mention of 5 more)
3. DT, ARUTRDME
4. Roud #4334
5. BI, R824