This is a song I heard from a Soldier in Camp Lucky Strike in France. He had just arrived from over seas and I was returning to the States.

He said he composed the song and sang it to his Girl Friend to whom he was engaged to marry. He was breaking the news to her that the wedding was off for the time being as he felt he had a duty else where at that time. He was through half of the first verse before I started listening so I start in the middle of the first verse.

I'M GOING TO JOIN IN THAT FIGHT WITH MY BUDDIES OVER YONDER, SO KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY THAT SOME DAY I'LL COME BACK.
 CHORUS

BUT IF I NEVER COME BACK TO YOU LITTLE DARLING, IF I DE OVER THERE NEVER MORE TO SEE YOU, KEEP A SMILE AND BE BRAVE FOR ME LITTLE DARLING, REMEMBER I DIED FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE.

SOME WILL SLEEP BENEATH THAT DEEP ocean, OTHERS WILL LAY BENEATH THE COLD CLAY. WE CAN'T ALL RETURN TO OUR LOVED ONES LITTLE DARLING, WARS WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE ENDED THAT WAY.

CHORUS(NOTE CHANGE AT END) SO IF I NEVER RETURN TO YOU LITTLE DARLING, IF YOU ARE AMONG THEM DRESSED IN BLACK, KEEP A SMILE AND BE BRAVE, DON'T BLAME NO BODY, JUST TRY TO BE PROUD FOR THE ONES THAT COME BACK.

I heard this just that one time and would have got back to him for the half of first verse I missed except a fight broke out about five minutes later and we never got together again. It did have a nice tune but me and tunes never had anything in common.

I thought you might like to have this, but if not, it's O.K.. Won't hurt my feelings.
    July 25, 1997 Eddie Mahan
 


A BALLAD
 TWO LITTLE CHILDREN, A GIRL AND A BOY SAT BY AN OLD CHURCH DOOR THE GIRLS LITTLE FEET WERE AS BROWN AS THE CURLS THAT FELL ON THE DRESS THAT SHE WORE. THE BOYS COAT WAS FADED AND HATLESS HIS HEAD AND A TEAR SHOWN IN EACH LITTLE EYE, WHY DON'T YOU RUN HOME TO YOUR MAMA I SAID AND THIS WAS THE MAIDEN'S REPLY:

MAMA'S IN HEAVEN THEY TOOK HER AWAY LEFT JIM AND I ALONE WE CAME HERE TO SLEEP AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY FOR WE HAVE NO MAMA OR HOME.

WE CAN'T EARN OUR BREAD, WE ARE TOO LITTLE SHE SAID, JIM'S FIVE YEARS AND I'M ONLY SEVEN, THERE'S NO ONE TO LOVE US SINCE PAPA IS DEAD,
AND OUR DARLING MAMA'S IN HEAVEN.

PAPA GOT LOST OUT AT SEA LONG AGO, WE WAITED ALL NIGHT ON THE SHORE. HE WAS THE LIFE SAVING CAPTAIN YOU KNOW
BUT HE NEVER COME BACK ANY MORE.
 THEN MAMA GOT SICK ANGELS TOOK HER AWAY SHE SAID TO US CHILDREN WARM AND BRIGHT. WE WILL COME FOR YOU DARLINGS SHE TOLD THEM SOME DAY, PERHAPS THEY WILL COME TONIGHT

THE SEXTON CAME EARLY TO RING THE CHURCH BELLS AND FOUND THEM BENEATH THE SNOW WHITE THE ANGELS HAD MADE ROOM FOR THE ORPHANS TO DWELL 1N HEAVEN WITH MAMA THAT NIGHT.
 
 

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