Your Dad Gave His Life For His Country (Decoration Day)
Words by Harry J. Breen & T. Mayo Geary
Published 1903

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

[repeat chorus]