Joel T. Bailey

THE OLD SOLDIER

They all gathered by the bunk
Where the old soldier lay
They had to lean real close
To hear what he had to say
He said I was wearing this uniform
Back before I was grown
God wanted me to be a soldier
For it’s the only life I’ve known
So don’t be looking so sad boys
The Captain on high knows best
He gave me a mighty good life
And now he wants me to rest
So I’ve got to be leaving now
But I won’t be saying goodbye
‘Cause we’ll meet agin someday
In that camp up in the sky
Then his eyes closed for the last time
And his friends there on his right
All looked up toward heaven
The old soldier has fought his last fight