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A Letter To A Friend Lyrics by James Whitcomb Riley

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The past is like a story
I have listened to in dreams
That vanished in the glory
Of the Morning's early gleams;
And--at my shadow glancing--
I feel a loss of strength,
As the Day of Life advancing
Leaves it shorn of half its length.
But it's all in vain to worry
At the rapid race of Time--
And he flies in such a flurry
When I trip him with a rhyme,
I'll bother him no longer
Than to thank you for the thought
That "my fame is growing stronger
As you really think it ought."
And though I fall below it,
I might know as much of mirth
To live and die a poet
Of unacknowledged worth;
For Fame is but a vagrant--
Though a loyal one and brave,
And his laurels ne'er so fragrant
As when scattered o'er the grave.
Credits
James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley

About “A Letter To A Friend” by James Whitcomb Riley

Read the complete lyrics to "A Letter To A Friend" by James Whitcomb Riley. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"A Letter To A Friend" is performed by James Whitcomb Riley. This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Letter To A Friend", explore more songs by James Whitcomb Riley using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Letter To A Friend" is credited to James Whitcomb Riley. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

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Visit the James Whitcomb Riley artist page at /artist/james-whitcomb-riley for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.