A little maiden climbed an old man's knee,
Begged for a story, "Do, Uncle, please."
Why are you single; Why live alone?

Have you no babies, have you no home?"

"I had a sweetheart, years, years ago:

Where she is now, pet, you soon will know.
List to the story, I'll tell it all.
I believed her faithless, after the Ball."


After the ball is over
After the break of dawn

After the dancer's leaving
After the stars are gone
Many a heart is aching

If you could read them all
Many the hopes that have vanished
After the ball.


Bright lights were flashing in the grand ballroom
Softly the music, playing sweet tunes

There came my sweetheart, my love, my own
I wished some water, left her alone


When I returned, dear, there stood a man
Kissing my sweetheart, as lovers can
Down fell the glass, pet, broken that's all

Just as my heart was, after the ball

After the ball is over

After the break of dawn
After the dancer's leaving
After the stars are gone

Many a heart is aching
If you could read them all
Many the hopes that have vanished

After the ball.

Long years have passed, child, I've never wed

True to my lost love, though she is dead
She tried to tell me, tried to explain
I would not listen, pleadings were in vain


One day a letter came from that man
He was her brother, the letter ran

That's why I'm lonely, not home at all
I broke her heart, After the ball


After the ball is over
After the break of dawn
After the dancer's leaving

After the stars are gone
Many a heart is aching
If you could read them all

Many the hopes that have vanished
After the ball.


After the ball is over
After the break of dawn
After the dancer's leaving

After the stars are gone
Many a heart is aching
If you could read them all

Many the hopes that have vanished
After the ball.