You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Silver Threads Among the Gold

Representative Text

1 Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away;
But, my darling, you will be, will be
Always young and fair to me;
Yes! my darling, you will be
Always young and fair to me.

Chorus:
Darling, I am growing old, growing old,
Silver threads among the gold
Shine upon my brow today;
Life is fading fast away.

2 When your hair is silver white,
And your cheeks no longer bright
With the roses of the May,
I will kiss your lips and say:
Oh my darling, mine alone, alone,
You have never older grown;
Yes! my darling, mine alone,
You have never older grown. [Chorus]

3 Love can nevermore grow cold,
Locks may lose their brown and gold;
Cheeks may fade and hollow grow;
But the hearts that love will know
Never, never winter’s frost and chill,
Summer warmth is in them still,
Never winter’s frost and chill,
Summer warmth is in them still. [Chorus]

4 Love is always young and fair;
What to us is silver hair,
Faded cheeks or steps grown slow,
To the hearts that beat below!
Since I kissed you, mine alone, alone,
You have never older grown;
Since I kissed you mine alone,
You have never older grown. [Chorus]


Source: Seth Parker's Hymnal #186

Author: Eben E. Rexford

Rexford, Eben Eugene.M (Johnsburg, New York, July 16, 1848--October 16, 1916, Shiocton, Wisconsin). Horticulturalist and editor of a Wisconsin farm journal. Many of his verses were used to fill empty corners of the journal. He also wrote many books on gardening. Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisc.), Litt.D. Twenty-five years, organist at First Congregational Church, Shiocton. See: Smith, Mary L.P. (1930). Eben E. Rexford; a biographical sketch. Menasha, Wis., George Banta Pub. Co. --Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives and Gabriel, Charles H. (1916). Singers and Their Songs. Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company.… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Darling, I am growing old
Title: Silver Threads Among the Gold
Author: Eben E. Rexford (1873)
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Darling, I am growing, growing old
Copyright: Public Domain

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #8519
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #8519

Include 1 pre-1979 instance
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.