happiest days of all

i wandered today on the seashore

the waves and the winds are low

i thought of the days that are gone by

ma

many long years ago

we lingered by the gently flowing billows

and watched the golden sunset fade away

and there among the sweet ocean breezes

we talked about our future wedding day

gathering up the shells from the seashore

gathering up the shells from the sea

those were the happiest days of all

ma

gathering up the shells from the shore

when the waves are rolling on the ocean

and the golden moonbeams on the pebbles shine

at your cottage by the sea i'll come again

ma

when the waves are rolling gentle

sweetheart mine

now i am growing up in years

ma

my locks are all silver and gray

but the vows that we made on the shore

ma

are fresh in my memory today

gathering up the shells from the seashore

gathering up the shells from the sea

those were the happiest days of all

ma

gathering up the shells from the shore

no more bright shells we will gather

as the waves come dashing as of yore

she lies 'neath the white pebbled sand

just covered up with shells on the shore

gathering up the shells from the seashore

gathering up the shells from the sea

those were the happiest days of all

ma

gathering up the shells from the shore