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 will soon know. List' to my story, I'll tell it all, I found her faithless, after the ball." Refrain After the ball is over, After the break of morn— After the dancers' 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. Verse 2 Bright lights were flashing in the grand ballroom, Softly the music playing sweet tunes. There came my sweetheart, my love, my own— "I wish some water; leave me alone." When I returned dear there stood a man, Kissing my sweetheart as lovers can. Down fell the glass dear, broken, that's all, Just as my heart was after the ball. Repeat refrain Verse 3 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 vain. One day a letter came from that man, He was her brother—the letter ran. That's why I'm lonely, no home at all; I broke her heart dear, after the ball. Repeat refrain Parody The popularity of the song made it a natural for contemporary parody. A common version was: After the ball was over, after the break of morn, After the dancers' 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 was over, Bonnie took out her glass eye, Put her false teeth in the water, hung up her wig to dry; Placed her false arm on the table, laid her false leg on the chair; After the party was over, Bonnie was only half there! Alternative parody verse 2 of above: After the ball was over, Bonnie took out her glass eye, Put her false teeth in the basin, corked up a bottle of dye Put her false leg in the corner, hung up her hair on the wall And all that was left went to bye byes after the ball. Alternative parody verse: After the ball is over, see her take out her glass eye, Put her false teeth in some water,