American Old Time Song Lyrics: 60 The Death Of Ensign Bagley

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 60

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.