Leaving the Lovely Young Ladies

It was the break of the day as we sailed out the bay
Riding the tide to the land far away
Provisions aboard, our cargo in the hold, we were leaving the lovely young ladies
Word had come down across the harbour and stage
Put away your nets, there's a war to be raged
We answered the call, the short and the small
The sailors and the lovers and the losers
It wasn't long then before the crowing of the cock
We let go the ropes and we slipped from the dock
In the dawn's early light over phosphorus swells
Every man wrestled with his personal hell

Don't think about tomorrow, don't think about the fight
Just think of our power and our glory and our might
Don't ask for forgiveness don't beg to be brave
Just pray God almighty gonna spare you your grave

My name it is William, that's Bill to my friends
I never committed any serious sins
It was on my birthday that I volunteered
I was young I was strong there wasn't nothing I feared
My Momma said Son, write home every day
I said Momma I will then I turned away
I didn't see the tear in the corner of her eye
I didn't see her shake in the sheets of the night
A lone seagull screamed as she slipped over me
Her song seemed to shriek out Beware Blue Puttee
Now I don't believe in omens and I don't believe in chance
My beliefs all got shaken when I saw the Devil dance

This is my story. One of valour and of grief
Of the blue Forget Me Not and the red Maple Leaf
A hundred years and more or was it only yesterday
The hope for the future still are shipping far away
From those who have fallen to those who have returned
Hold our banners high and let the home fires burn
And keep our memory often in your hearts and in your minds
Remember how we danced along the strand in the summertime
My name it is William I have met a sad end
I gave up my own to save the life of my friend
And never again will I hold my dear ones near
And I've left all the lovely young ladies.

Don't think about tomorrow, don't think about the fight
Just think of our power and our glory and our might
Don't ask for forgiveness don't beg to be brave
Just pray God almighty gonna spare you your grave



Credits
Writer(s): Snowden Walters
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

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