"Your Dad Gave His Life
For His Country (Decoration Day)"
Words by Harry J. Breen & T. Mayo Geary
Within a quaint old village school not many miles
away
The teacher said tomorrow boys is Decoration Day.
I want you all to bring something to place upon
the grave
Of each and ev'ry soldier bold who died his cause
to save
Most of the boys said we'll bring flags but one
poor lad alone
Said teacher we've no money to buy flags down
at our home
At mothers knee that night he told her what the
teacher said
With tear dimmed eye she whispered as she knelt
beside his bed
[chorus]
Your dad give his life for his country
he marched away with the rest
Tight in my arms I held you
As they went by four abreast
He marched away with the soldiers,
Dressed in their colors of blue,
And if our country needs heroes again,
then I will give them you!"
The mother thought of by-gone days when with
its wreck and ruin
War took away her only love to march to trumpets
tune
She thought of how he kissed his boy his last
farewell goodbye
And said "make him a soldier boy if on
the field I die"
And when the war was ended she said God's will
be done
But still if duty calls him they can always
take my son
Just then a voice said mother dear please do
not go away
But tell me what I'll say at school on Decoration
Day
