American Old Time Song Lyrics: 14 I'll Return Bye And Bye
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 14
I'LL RETURN BYE-AND-BYE.
Copyright, 1885, by Willis Woodward & Co.
The strife is beginning, the war drums are beating,
The noise of the trumpet's alarm tills the air;
Soon hearts will be broken, for armies are meeting
To fight in defense of our land ever fair.
A youth hears the signal, he cries, I am ready,
I'll follow the standard wherever I'm led!
For no other soldier can battle more steady,
And these were the words that the young hero said:
Chorus.
I'll return bye-and-bye, and tell you the story
Of honor and valor, with rapture I'll cry;
Then do not forget me, I seek after glory,
Though gone from you now, I'll return bye-and-bye.
Then off with his fellows he marches with gladness,
All ready and armed for the battles to come;
His heart never burdened with trouble or sadness,
But filled with a love for the dear ones at home.
He follows his leader, his saber is swinging,
With never a thought of a danger or pain;
Where greatest the carnage his voice is heard singing.
Some day I'll return to my friends once again.-Chorus.
One day as the hero was leading in battle,
A shot struck him low and he fell on the sand,
He cared not for danger or loud cannons' rattle,
I die, cried the boy, for my own native land!
And now when years after we think how he left a¯,
To go to the wars on that sad fatal day,
We mourn for our loss, for the struggle bereft us,
We think of his words as he then marched away.-Chorus.