Title: American Old Time Song Lyrics
Subject: Traditional & Folk Music
Author: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk
Keywords: Old time music, American, oldtimey, bluegrass

He Was A Soldier - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
HE WAS A SOLDIER Copyright, 1892. by Willis Woodward & Co. Words and Music by Paul Dresser. 
A youth of twenty Summers, he was going far away. To fight for that he loved the best in battle's grand array; I saw him kiss the falling tears from off a mother's cheek, And say, "Don't weep, for I'll return some day." And then he went off to the war, a youth so blithe and gay, His mother watched him from the gate until he passed away; He went into the battle and fought with might and main, And when the war was over, his thoughts turned home again. 
Chorus. For he was a soldier and he went to the war, He fought for the flag he loved in battle-fields afar; And when it was over, with many a scar, He came back friendless and alone To the place of his birth with its old oaken door, Where he had said good-bye in the days of yore; But all were gone to return no more, No one to meet him at home. 
The vet'ran soldier sadly gazed, then with a deep-drawn sigh, He turned his footsteps from that home where they had said, "good-bye." He thought about that mother's face that he had longed to see, Then cried aloud-Oh, give her back to me! He wandered down the village street and saw the children play, But no familiar one to greet and then he went away; The bugle call he seemed to hear-to arms! stand side by side! The Great Commander calls me, then sank to earth and died.- Chorus.