A Soldier’s Farewell

Can you feel it
The cold winds blowing at our door
I fear they could be the bitter winds of war
The town bells are ringing
A death knell ringing
All the while just waiting for the call
Listening to the writing on the wall
They’re calling out to our brave young men
Who are ready now to rally to that call
To the anthem played
And to those serried ranks arrayed
They’re looking so handsome in their uniforms
While I’m wishing it was all just a charade
They’re marched off through the town
Towards the waiting train.

So, this is farewell, please just farewell
Oh, my dearest darling I pray thee
Fare thee well
For you’ve gone far away, so very far away
While I’m left standing here, just waiting for the day
When you’ll be coming back and out of harm’s way
And so, until then I just hope and pray
Each and every day, every single day
Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting
Waiting for the telephone to ring
Or at least the mail to bring
Any little thing, Oh any little thing
Anything to tell, that you are faring well
If only time would tell, whatever may befell
Any news convey, or even come what may
Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting
For anything at all to while the time away
And so, life carried on until the fateful day
A telegram to advise, my soldier’s sad demise
Why Oh, Why Oh, Why Oh, Why?
Why just sorrow, sorrow, sorrow?
And now to leave this cold world hollow, hollow

And it was with an empty heart
That had been slowly breaking from the start
Came that final curtain call
Among a very long list of names
And some meaningless acclaims
With just a folded flag and fading bugle call
That was to become my soldier’s last farewell.

No chance to cry or even say my last goodbye.
Rodd Sherwin
to a composition by
Jacob Ladegaard
JACOB'S PIANO

Posted

in

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *