Drink if you will to happy days
And things to be — but say,
Where are the fellows I used to know?
Where are my friends to-day?
Wow! Hear me howl!
For Shad and Pete and George and Jack
Who took the long trail and left no track:

O, never a one of them all comes back,
And the winter-time is here!
Wow! Hear me howl!
For Olive and June and white Irene,
And the Mexican Kid and little Corinne:
Daughters of joy who have not been seen
This many and many a year!
I'm a lone old wolf, and I've lost my pack,
And the winter-time is here:
Wow! Hear me howl!

Many are gay and many are fair,
And some still come at my call:
But I've gone lame, and can run no more,
So what's the use of it all?

I dreamed last night I ran with them
Under a gold-red sky,
Where the mountains rose from the green prairie —
And I woke and wisht to die.

Drink if you will, and drink on me!
But this is the toast I give:
Live hard with your pack and live yourselves out —
Then ask no more to live.
Wow! Hear me howl!
For Shad and Pete and George and Jack
Who took the long trail and left no track:
O, never a one of them all comes back,
And the winter-time is here!
Wow! Hear me howl!

For Olive and June and white Irene,
And the Mexican Kid and little Corinne:
Daughters of joy who have not been seen
This many and many a year!
I'm a lone old wolf and I've lost my pack,
And the winter time is here!
Wow! Hear me howl!