When I was a young man courting the girls   I played me a waiting game   If a maid refused me with tossing curls   I'd let the old earth take a couple of twirls   And I'd ply her with tears instead of pearls   And as time came around, she came my way   As time came around, she came      But it's a long, long while from May to December   And the days grow short when you reach September   The autumn weather turns the leaves to flame   And I haven't got the time for the waiting game      Oh, the days dwindle down to precious few   September, November   And these few precious days I'll spend with you   These precious days I'll spend with you