May 26, 2006

Rosemary for Remembrance

One Vacant Chair
Words: Henry Washburn
Music: George Root

We shall meet but we shall miss him.
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev'ning prayer.
When one year ago we gathered,
Joy was in his mild blue eye.
Now the golden cord is severed,
And our hopes in ruin lie.

CHORUS: We shall meet, but we shall miss him.
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev'ning prayer.

At our fireside, sad and lonely,
Often will the bosom swell
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell.
How he strove to bear the banner
Thro' the thickest of the fight
And uphold our country's honor
In the strength of manhood's might.

CHORUS

True, they tell us wreaths of glory
Evermore will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only,
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now.
Sleep today, O early fallen,
In thy green and narrow bed.
Dirges from the pine and cypress
Mingle with the tears we shed.


To hear a beautiful piano version of this, go to
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/songs/chair.html and
click on the little box with the notes on it.

Have a thoughtful Memorial Day weekend.

1 comment:

graymama said...

Thank you for sharing this meaningful song! It reminded me of

LIVE ON MY WARRIOR SON by STEVE MCDONALD

For I'll never see you. again
And I'll never please you. again
Live on, live on
Live on beloved one
Live on my warrior son
Born of the Isles
Somerled child
Fearless and brave
From birth to the grave
Clan Donald, Clan Donald
Live on beloved one
Live on my warrior son