He is far too young
to go and to fight
He hasn’t lived yet
It is not right.
He is just a boy
He should not go
He thinks he should
Because the others do.
He enlists with
All his mates
He thinks it’s right
To become great.
He wants to fight
And have some fun
And he is excited
To be given a gun.
Life in the trenches
Is not so good
It harder for him
Than he thought it would.
Life is very grim
And he missing his Mum
He’s a long way from home
And his strength is all done.
As he lays dying
A long way from all
He lays there crying
For accepting the call.
He knows they are thinking
Of him so far away
Hoping and praying
That he makes it through each day.
He prays for his mother
She will be very sad
He had done his best
And prays she will be glad.
The family sat waiting
For news of their lad
A telegram arrived
They knew the news was bad.
Poor mother was broken
She mourned for her babe
She treasured the memories
and kept them to save.
Our John was heroic
He was brave on his own
His family still miss him
And he will never again be alone.