THE DEATH OF ENSIGN BAGLEY
Copyright, 1898, by Chas. O. Brokaw.
Words and Music by W. Knox Baldwin.
Within an humble cottage, not very far away,
A dear old mother's weeping, her son will sail to-day;
Beside her stands her only boy, a gallant sailor lad;
He looked at her in anguish, his face tear-stained and sad;
His ship's been called away to war, to sail within a day;
Oh, mother dear, how can I go and leave you in this way?
My son, said she, with trembling voice, 'tis a worthy cause, you know.
He knelt beside her, kissed her brow, said "mother, good-bye," I'll go.
Chorus.
'Tis the same old story, a life for what was right;
He left his home and mother on the briny deep to fight;
He ne'er forgot her last dear words, 'tis a worthy cause, you know.
For honor's sake good men have died, my son, I hid you go.
Upon the gallant Winslow our noble Ensign stands,
Directs our deadly cannonade against the Spanish lands.
A shell burst just above him, then fell into the foam;
He gave a cry of agony and fell back with a moan;
His comrade crew stood o'er his form as they bade him last "good by;"
He's going home to mother, 'tis sad that he should die;
A starry flag they o'er him spread as on the deck he lay,
A sacrifice to duty's call, the hero of the day.-Chorus.