American Old Time Song Lyrics: 59 The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 59

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.

On Shlloh's dark and bloody ground.
The dead and wounded lay;
Among them was a drummer boy,
Who beat the drum that day.
A wounded soldier held him up,
His drum was by his side;
He clasped his hands, then raised his eyes,
And prayed before he died:

Look down upon the battle-field,
O Thou, our Heavenly Friend;
Have mercy on our sinful souls-
The soldiers cried, Amen!
For. gathered round a little group,
Each brave man knelt and cried-
They listened to the drummer boy.
Who prayed before he died.

O Mother: said the dying boy.
Look down from heaven on me;
Receive me to thy fond embrace-
Oh! take me home to thee­I've loved my country as my God;
To serve them both I've tried-
He smiled, shook hands-death seized the boy,
Who prayed before he died.

Each soldier wept then like a child-
Stout hearts were they, and brave-
The Flag, his winding sheet -God's Book,
The key unto his grave.
They wrote upon a simple board
These words, This is a guide
To those who'd mourn the drummer boy.
Who prayed before he died.

Ye angels round the throne of grace.
Look down upon the braves.
Who fought and died on Shlloh's plain.
Now slumbering in their graves;
How many homes made desolate!
How many hearts have sighed!
How many like that drummer boy.
Who prayed, before he died.