G G G G
G G G G
G G G G
G G G G
C C C C
G G G G
G G G G
G D D G

[Intro-Guitar]
D C D G

[Verse 1]
G
"Where are you going, Young Fellow My Lad,
G
On this glittering morn of May ?"
G
"I'm going to join the Colors, Dad,
D                             G
They're looking for men, they say."
G           C
"But you're only a boy, Young Fellow My Lad,
C   G
You aren't obliged to go."
G
"Well, I'm seventeen and a quarter, Dad,
G           D           G      C D C
And ever so strong, you know."

[Verse 2]
G
"So you're off to France, Young Fellow My Lad
G
And you're looking so fit and bright."
G
"I'm terribly sorry to leave you, dad,
G     C                   G
But I feel that I'm doing right."
G
"God bless you and keep you, Young Fellow My Lad,
G      C         G
You're all of my life, you know."
G
"Don't worry. I'll soon be back, dear dad,
G               D
And I'm awfully proud to go."

[Bridge--Harmonica]
G G G G
G D G G

[Bridge-Guitar]
C D C G

[Verse 3]
G
"Why don't you write, Young Fellow My Lad ?
G               D         G
I watch for the post each day;
G
And I miss you so and I'm awfully sad,
G                     D        G
And it's months since you went away.
G        C
And I've had the fire in the parlor lit,
C       G
And I'm keeping it burning bright
G
Till my boy comes home, and here I sit
G        D
Into the quiet night."

[Bridge]
C D C G

[Verse 4]
G
"What is the matter, Young Fellow My Lad ?
G         D        G
No letter again to-day.
G
Why did the postman look so sad,
G                     D
And sigh as he turned away ?
D       C
Well, I hear them tell that we've gained new ground,
C     G
But a terrible price we've paid:
G
God grant, my boy, that you're safe and sound;
G          D       G
But oh I'm afraid, afraid."

[Bridge-Harmonica]
G G D G
G C G G

[Brige--Guitar]
C D C G

[Verse 5]
G
"They've told me the truth, Young Fellow My Lad,
G
You'll never come back again:
G
(Oh God! the dreams and the dreams I've had,
G                  D         G
And the hopes I've nursed in vain.)
G            C
For you passed in the night, Young Fellow My Lad,
C       G
And you proved in the cruel test
G
Of the screaming shell and the battle hell
G       D                  G
That my boy was one of the best."

[Bridge]
C D C G

[Verse 6]
G
"So you'll live, you'll live, Young Fellow My Lad,
G
In the gleam of the evening star,
G
In the wood-note wild and the laugh of the child,
G
In all sweet things that are.
G                D       G
And you'll never die, my wonderful boy
G             D         G
While life is noble and true:
G
For all our beauty and hope and joy
G                  D         G
We will owe to our lads like you."