CAL STEWART, New York, Memorial Day, 1903.
I'VE jist bin down at the corner, mother, To see the boys in line, Dressed up in their bran' new uniforms, I tell you they looked fine.
And as they marched past whar I stood, To the rattle of the drum, It made me think of those other boys Who marched in sixty-one.
The old flag wuz proudly wavin', mother, Jist as it did one day When you stood thar to say good-bye, And watch me march away.
So I stood thar and watched them Till the parade wuz nearly done, But thar wasn't many thar to-day Who marched in sixty-one.
And thar wuz my old Captain And the Colonel side by side, And as they both saluted me I jist sot down and cried.
And I thought about some other boys Whose work has long bin done;
Soon thar won't be any left at all Who marched in sixty one.
I heered the band play Dixie, And my old heart swelled with pride, A-thinkin' of the boys in gray Who marched on the other side.
And when my time it comes, mother, The Lord's will it be done, I hope he'll take me to the boys Who marched in sixty-one.