One morning when the office was opened A man quite old in years Entered the express office Showing signs of grief and tears And when the clerk approached him The old man then did say I'm waiting for my boy, sir He's coming home today
Well. you have made a silly mistake And you must surely know This is the telegraph office, Sir And not a town depot If your boy is coming home The clerk did smile and say You'll find him with the passengers, Sir At the station just all the way
You do not understand me, Sir The old man shook his head He's not a-coming as a passenger But by express instead He's coming home to mother The old man softly said He's coming home in a casket, Sir He's coming to us dead
Then a whistle pierced their ears The express train someone cry The old man rose in a breathless haste And quickly rushed outside Then a long white casket Was lowered to the ground The scene was filled with the grief and pain Of those who gathered around
Do not treat him harshly, boys It contains our darling Jack He went away as you boys are This way he's coming back He broke his poor old mother's heart Her fears have all come true She said, it's the way that he'd come back If he joined the boys in blue