A SOLDIER'S FAREWELL

One lovely night in summer
Before he went away,
A soldier took his sweetheart's hand
and this to her did say,
"On the inside of my tunic,
placed right next to my heart."
"Is a picture of my darling,
my one and own sweetheart."

"I'll carry your picture next my heart
and always think of you."
"No matter where I go love,
no matter what I'll do."
In the thickness of the battle
In sickness or in pain;
"I'll carry your picture next my heart
until we meet again."

As tears rolled down her snow white face,
She to her soldier said.
"I'll be true while you're away,
No one will take your place."
"I'll always wait for your return
so long as I have breathe."
"I'll wait for you in life, my love
I'll wait for you in death."

It was only nine months later,
His comrade to her came.
Told her that her soldier boy,
Will not be home again.
In the last great charge
Your true love went forward with the rest,
Until badly wounded he fell
With a bullet in his breast.

I knelt beside your hero
As his life's blood ebbed away,
Listened to all he had to tell
Heard all he had to say.
In a pocket in his tunic
So neatly tucked inside,
Was a picture of the girl he loved
Who was to be his bride.

Your name was on that picture
And also your address,
In it a hole the bullet made
That pierced his noble breast.
He opened wide his dying eyes
Looked up at me and said.
"Don't touch that picture , comrade please
I want it when I'm dead."

I want that picture with me
And when you see my love,
Tell her I will meet her
In Heaven up above.
Where I will need no uniform
No bayonet or no gun.
It is there I'll meet my own true love
My joy and only one.

As tears rolled down her show white cheeks
She to his comrade said.
"How can I go on living now,
That my true love is dead?"
"I never will forget the night
The last I saw my love,
Sleep on my darling soldier boy
I'll meet you up above."

Oh why do men invent such things
As implements of war?
To kill our love ones,
Break our hearts
Oh, God what is it for?
Why do so many have to go
Why don't they all return?
We must leave the answer to our God,
It is for us to learn!


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