American Old Time Song Lyrics: 26 That's My Boy

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 26

THAT'S MY BOY.
Copyright, 1889, by M. Witmark & Sons.
Words and Music by Julius P. Witmark.

The distant days of childhood come back again to me,
The dear old face of mother in fancy I can see;
Her smile, so sweet and loving, would banish every care,
Her gentle voice at twilight's close taught me a mother's prayer.
The years rolled quickly onward, to manhood I had grown,
And one day duty forced me to leave her all alone;
How fondly she embraced me when parting on the quay,
And in my ear still lingers sweet her farewell words to me:

Chorus.
Be upright, brave and truthful, where'er your lot is cast,
That little word of honesty contains a meaning vast;
Tho' fortune's smile may shun you, 'twill fill my heart with joy
To proudly say to all the world: That's my boy.

The words she spoke when parting I've treasured all my life,
How often have they cheered me thro' trouble, toil and strife;
Upon the field of battle, amid the cannon's roar,
I heard her whispered blessing just as sweetly as of yore.
No more she waits my coming to take me to her breast, .;
Beneath the churchyard mosses she slumbers now at rest;
But when the twilight shadows fall softly o'er the lea,
The echo of my mother's voice comes back again to me:-Chorus.