The Choir Family Farewell

"Goodbye", - it seems so final,

This choir has said a few,

But really, it is very hard

To say 'goodbye' to you.

O'er the silver years of singing,

Enjoying each low note,

And even when the music by

Our George, had been 'rewrote'.

When in mid song, he'll gulder

"You're hissing like a snake"

"Someone, their notes are sliding"

"Too many breaths you take"

To me, the choir's a family

Where friendships we did forge,

And all under the leadership

Of my 'big brother' George.

Is this a day historic George?

I see you look enthralled,

For this must be the first time e'er

That 'BIG', you have been called.

This 'family' is extended,

With aunts and uncles too,

Time has its limitations

So I'll mention just a few.

The first is aunty Jean McBride,

She's known me ages long,

Why, she knew me when she was still

My aunty Jean Armstrong.

How could I forget uncle George?

He's known me quite some time,

Since he and his new bride moved in

Next door, to 'forty nine'

There's Jeannie, our librarian,

A thankless task, no doubt,

With head in drawer she'll oft be found

A-hokin' music out.

And then of course there's Dorothy,

My colleague in the verse,

Perhaps she could do better, 'cause

She sure could do no worse.

There's stories of three legged dogs,

And Tommy's 'oul straw hat'

If ever I feel homesick,

I'll just remember that.

This family has its elders,

I'm thinkinig of 'Big John'

A special 'farewell' to you

From your 'self adopted son'.

So farewell choir family,

I'll think of you with love,

And should we ne'er sing here again,

We'll sing in Heaven above.

Don't make this any harder

For really hard it is,

But I must follow on with

My dear beloved, Liz.

As we conclude our packing,

'Twill be a great relief

When eventually we settle down

In the land of 'Maple leaf'

So 'farewell' tenors, altos,

Sopranos, basses too,

But 'goodbye' seems so final,

So I'll just say ''adieu''.