a 1917 World War I song with a universal appeal
words and music by Louis Weslyn and Al. Piantadosi
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Little girl, don’t cry, I must say, “Goodbye”
Don’t you hear the bugle call?
And the fife and drum bid the fellows come
Where the flag waves over all
Tho’ I love you so, it is time to go
And a soldier in me you’ll find
When on land or sea they need boys like me
You would not have me stay behind, so
Chorus
Send me away with a smile, little girl
Brush the tears from eyes of brown
It’s all for the best, and I’m off with the rest
Of the boys from my own home town
It may be forever we part, little girl
And it may be for only a while
But if fight, dear we must, in our Maker we trust
So send me away with a smile
2. When I leave you, dear, give me words of cheer
To recall in time of pain
They will comfort me and will seem to be
Like the sunshine after rain
And ‘mid shot and shell I’ll remember well
You’ve the heart of a soldier, too
And that through this war I am fighting for
My country and my home and you
Sung here by Fred Feild: