You smile on all the human race,
 Old man o' the moon;
Though often you may hide your face,
 Old man o' the moon.
Why should they say: “Inconstant one”?
You 've been as faithful as the sun,—
Yes, ever since the world begun,
 Old man o' the moon.

Although you look like Horace Greeley,
 Old man o' the moon;
You do not give advice so freely,
 Old man o' the moon.
Yet from your movements may be guessed
What plan of action you deem best;
For you 've been always “ going West ,”
 Old man o' the moon.

You never seem afraid of work,
 Old man o' the moon;
Nor ever any duty shirk,
 Old man o' the moon.
You like to stay up late at night
To see that stars don't shine too bright,
And watch that earth goes round all right,
 Old man o' the moon.

How many monstrous things you've seen,
Old man o' the moon;
As round and round the earth you've been,
Old man o' the moon.
How many secrets you could tell:
Few midnight crimes that e'er befell
But you have seen—lone sentinel—
Old man o' the moon.

Each new-born poet sighs to you,
Old man o' the moon;
And faithless lovers vow anew,
Old man o' the moon.
Should you relate each whispered word
Of love's romances you have heard,
'T would make a comedy absurd,
Old man o' the moon.

Were you to tell each love affair,
Old man o' the moon;
The social world would have a scare,
Old man o' the moon.
For often they who vow the most
Are soonest up to see the ghost;
And find Divorce a sorry host,
Old man o' the moon.

Though out all night till early morn,
Old man o' the moon;
And often seen to take a horn,
Old man o' the moon.
You never seem to lose your skull
But gain in strength by getting full;
For then you have the strongest pull,
Old man o' the moon.

“Bi-metalism,” Nature cries,
Old man o' the moon,
And you're the Bryan of the skies,
Old man o' the moon.
The Golden Sun may rule by day,
Yet both the metals have fair play,
As you're free silver anyway,
Old man o' the moon.

If you were here when earth was made,
Old man o' the moon;
You know just where the pole was laid,
Old man o' the moon.
For fear that some “Extension” cranks
May wish it ruled by modern Yanks,
Please keep it dark and have our thanks,
Old man o' the moon.