A sentimental ballad from 1904
Words by Will D. Cobb
Music by Gus Edwards
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- The sound of the bugle is calling
Fare thee well, Fare thee well
The soldiers in line are a-falling
Fare thee well, Fare thee well
“There’s a rose in your hair sweet maiden
And its fragrance rare floats on the air
But the rose from your cheek is fading
Hark! I can hear the trumpets blare
Chorus
Good-bye, little girl, good-bye
Good-bye, little girl, good-bye
Just let me wear this rose so fair
For I’m marching away to be a soldier
Don’t cry little girl, don’t cry
Bye and bye, little girl, bye and bye
In my uniform of blue
I’ll come marching back to you
Goodbye little girl good-bye”
- From afar comes the sound of a battle
Bugles call, soldiers fall
On the ground mid the roar and the rattle,
Lies a boy, soldier boy
“There’s a rose in my breast my comrade
I could hear him say mid the battles fray,
If they spare you to see my darling
Will you take it back to her and say.
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: