"Grandfather's Clock" was written by Henry Clay Work in 1876 and first recorded by Edison Male Quartette in 1905. And apparently grandfather clocks are named after the song.

Lots of covers have been done in different music styles. Everything from brass bands to pop and bluegrass. Mine is a 'folk' version.

It was in the beginning guitar chord book that I had for guitar lessons. I quit the lessons before I got to the song and picked it up later. Went back and checked the arrangement in the book and added the A7 to my version. I work in a extra C chord which is a nice touch.

Lyrics:
My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born,
It was always his treasure and pride;
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Chorus
Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tick, tick, tick),
His life seconds numbering,
(tick, tick, tick, tick),
It stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

In watching its pendulum swing to and fro,
Many hours had he spent while a boy.
And in childhood and manhood the clock seemed to know
And to share both his grief and his joy.
For it struck twenty-four when he entered at the door,
With a blooming and beautiful bride;
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

My grandfather said that of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he found;
For it wasted no time, and had but one desire —
At the close of each week to be wound.
And it kept in its place — not a frown upon its face,
And its hands never hung by its side.
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

It rang an alarm in the dead of the night —
An alarm that for years had been dumb;
And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight —
That his hour of departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side;
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.