Three days before my death, 

I resigned to my fate. 

All the hopeful and the lonely

Came to study my face. 

I remembered last December

In my back-porch request.

I remembered you my sweetheart,

And I looked to the West. 



Now the battle din is o'ershot

And shell cannon roar

Sad hearts within us die

Useless now, good swords lie.

Now the battle din is o'ershot

And shell canon roar.

Sad hearts within us die

And the swallows homeward fly.



If you see me sitting eastward

With my face to the sun,

If you see me on your back-porch

Like I did when we were young,

In the shadows of the morning,

Where you first were my bride,

Don't try speaking, 

Don't start crying, 

Just sit down by my side.



Now the battle din is o'ershot

And shell-canon roar,

Sad hearts within us die.

Useless now, good swords lie.

Now the battle din is o'ershot

And shell-canon roar,

Sad hearts within us die,

And the swallows homeward fly.



Three days before my death,

I resigned to my death.

All the hopeless and the lonely

Came to study my face.

I remembered last December,

In my back-porch request.

I remember you my sweetheart,

And I look to the West.