A World War I song from 1918
Words by Will Dillon
Music by Albert Von Tilzer
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Gerd Westendorp:
Lyrics
- Mother’s only treasure, a boy of just eighteen
Mother loves him so, still she bade him go
Now he is a solider, a hero like his dad
Mother’s heart is lonely, still mother’s heart is glad
And as she holds his photograph, she murmurs plaintively
Your childhood days are over but to me you’ll always be
Chorus:
My baby boy it seems a year to me
My baby boy since you were on my knee
And now just think that you’re a great big man
Fighting for your Uncle Sam
My baby boy I am so proud of you
My baby boy it thrills me through
When you are free from harm
Come back to mother’s arms
My little baby solider boy
- Little pair of rompers hanging on the wall
Rocking horse and all, idle in the hall
Empty is the cradle, baby’s gone away
Mother’s great big darling is coming back some day
“And if I had another son,” she said,
“’Twould bring me joy
I’d have another star there and another soldier boy”
Sung by Vancha March