Lets Be Fools To-Night or, The Three Partners

We, three men of commerce,     Striving wealth to raise,     See but little promise     In the coming days;     Though our hearts are brittle,     Hardened near to stone,     We can think a little     Of the seasons flown.     Lily days and rose days:     Youthful days so bright;     We were fools in those days,     Lets be fools to-night.     We, three men of commerce,     Men of business we,     Gave but little promise     Of what we would be     When we wandered urchins,     Foes of law and rule,     Fearing only birchings     And the village school.     Lily days and rose days,     Boyhoods days so bright;     We were fools in those days,     Lets be fools to-night.     We, three men of commerce,     Men of business we,     Gave but little promise     Of ability     When we lived in riot;     Never drew the line,     Hating peace and quiet,     Loving maids and wine.     Days when money goes, days     When mens hearts are right;     We were fools in those days,     Lets be fools to-night.     We must wear to-morrow     All our worldly marks,     Calm looks for our sorrow,     Stern looks for our clerks,     Who, from trouble shrinking,     Tasting earthly joys,     Hate us, little thinking     Ever we were boys.     Days when kindness flows, days     When mens hearts are white;     Weve been wise since those days,     Lets be fools to-night.