I Am Not Ashamed To Call Her Mother
Words by Albert Edwin Fowler
Published 1899

A crowd of lassies were at play upon a city street,
When past them strayed a woman, old and gray,
The girls begun to laugh at her, and pull her faded shawl,
She noticed not but still kept on her way
I watched her as she passed along and presently I saw,
The boys in blue march down the street returning from the war,
From out the ranks a young man stepp'd, and standing by her side,
He kissed her and caressed her, while tenderly she cried,

[chorus]
I am not ashamed to call her mother,
Even tho' her hair has turned to gray,
I am not ashamed to call her mother,
Here upon this crowded street today
I've come back to cheer her lonely heart girls,
I've come back to make the old place bright
I've come back to bask in her sweet smiles
girls I am going home with her tonight.

There was a lassie in the crowd whose honest heart was touched,
As she listened to the soldier boy that day,
The tear drops started down her cheeks, she hid her pretty face,
Then turning to that mother she did say
"All honor to this noble man, all honor to the rest,
Who dare to stand and tell the world they love their mother best,
And madam I am sorry for the part I took today
I'll say adieu, leave him with you so you may hear him say

[repeat chorus]