My Father Was a Sailor on the Maine
Words & Music by Hattie Nevada
Published 1898

Down at the station ev'ry thing was gay,
Troops were departing eager for the fray,
Came a little maiden touched a trooper grand,
Then a bunch of clover blossoms placed within his hand.

[chorus]
My father was a soldier just like you,
My father was a sailor and wore a coat of blue,
My father was a sailor I'll never see him again,
My father was a sailor sir, a sailor on the Maine.

Please take the flowers place them for me,
On father's grave sir down by the sea,
Whisper and tell him I sent them by you,
And I know he'll hear you for you wear the coat of blue.

Troopers gather round her loud play the band,
Captains and Gen'rals all round her stand,
Please mister soldier do this for me,
When you fire the cannon sir, just fire it once for me.