By-and-bye, the maiden sighed by-and-bye
He will claim me for his bride,
Hope is strong and time is fleet;
Youth is fair, and love is sweet,
Clouds will pass that fleck my sky,
He will come back by-and-bye.
By-and-bye, the soldier said by-and-bye,
After I have fought and bled,
I shall go home from the wars,
Crowned with glory, seamed with scars,
Joy will flash from some ones eye
When she greets me by-and-bye- by-and-bye.
By-and-bye, the mother cried by-and-bye,
Strong and sturdy at my side,
Like a staff supporting me,
Will my bonnie baby be.
Break my rest, then, wail and cry
Thoult repay me by-and-bye - by-and-bye.
Fleeting years of time have sped hurried by
Still the maiden is unwed:
All unknown soldier lies,
Buried under alien skies;
And the son, with blood-shot eye,
Saw his mother starve and die.
God in heaven! dost Thou on high
Keep the promised by-and-bye - by-and-bye?
