That Old Gang Of Mine
Frank Fontaine Lyrics

I've got a longing way down in my heart
I have a deep sense of longing for something in my heart

For that old gang that has drifted apart
I miss the old gang of friends that have gone separate ways

They were the best pals that I ever had
They were the greatest friends I've had

I never thought that I'd want them so bad
I never imagined wanting them so much

Gee but I'd give the world to see
I would give anything to see

That old gang of mine
My group of old friends

I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
I can't forget the group of four who sang "Sweet Adeline"

Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
Farewell forever, old male and female friends

Goodbye forever, old sweethearts and pals
Goodbye forever, old romantic partners and friends

(God bless them)
(I pray for their well-being)

Last night I strolled to that old neighborhood
I walked to the old neighborhood last night

There on that corner I silently stood
I stood silently on that corner

I felt so blue as the crowds hurried by
I felt sad as the crowds rushed past me

Nobody knew how I wanted to cry
No one knew how I wished to cry

Recitation:
In a spoken section of the song:

Last night 'neath a street lamp I silently stood
Last night, I stood silently under a street lamp

On the same corner back in that old neighborhood
On the same street corner in the old neighborhood

As I gazed at the houses, unchanged by the years
As I looked at the unchanged houses over time

In my throat came a lump and my eyes filled with tears
I felt a lump in my throat and my eyes filled with tears

I looked at the lamppost, the pump, and the stoop
I looked at the lamp post, pump, and doorstep

And again I could picture us kids in a group
I saw us as kids in a group again

There was Shorty, and Yeller and Skinny and Mike
There were Shorty, Yeller, Skinny, and Mike

And the rich kid who had ball bearing skates and a bike
And the wealthy kid with skating shoes and a bike

And down near the school I could see the brick wall
And I saw the brick wall near the school

Where we used to go for a game of handball
Where we played handball together

And the crabby old janitor who chased us away
And the grumpy janitor who used to kick us out

Say, what I wouldn't give to just see him today!
How much I'd love to see him today!

And then came the parties and dances-- that's why
Then there were parties and dances--that's how

We didn't notice the years going by
We didn't realize how quickly time passed

And the first thing we knew we were all twenty-one
Before we knew it, we were all twenty-one

But the Gang stuck together in a fight or in fun
But the Gang remained together in good times and bad

And then came the War- the crowds in the street
Then the War started---crowds were in the street

The blast of the Bugle- the tramp of the feet
The Bugle sounded, and the feet marched

And the gang, that old gang of mine
The gang, my old gang

Was the first gang that hit the Von Hindenburg line.
We were the first gang to attack Von Hindenburg line

But the war is all over and last night as I stood
But the war is over, and last night I stood

On the same corner back in that old neighborhood
On the same street corner in the old neighborhood

I couldn't help brushing a tear from my eye
I couldn't help but wipe a tear from my eye

For I knew not a face in the crowds that went by
I didn't recognize any faces in the crowds

Gone forever are the pals that I love
The pals I loved are gone forever

There isn't a trace or a sign
There is no trace or any evidence

Of that regular honest-to-goodness old bunch
Of the old, honest group

That I call that old gang of mine
I called my old friends that old gang of mine