One morning when the office had opened a man quite old in years Entered the express office showing signs of grief and fear When the clerk approached him his trembling voice did say I’m waiting for my boy, sir he’s coming home today 
You have made a small mistake and you must surely know This is the express office, sir and not a town depot If your boy is coming home this cold rainy day You’ll find him with the passengers at the station just over the way 
You do not understand me, sir the old man shook his head He’s not a-coming as a passenger but by express instead He’s coming home to mother the old man gently said He’s coming home in a casket, sir he’s coming to us dead 
Just then a whistle pierced the ears the express came in on time The old man rose in a breathless haste and quickly rushed outside Then a long white casket was lowered to the ground The scene was filled with the grief and tears of those who gathered around 
Don’t handle that box roughly, boys it contains our darling Jack He went away as you boys are see the way he’s coming back He broke his poor mother’s heart her saying’s all come true She said, this is the way that he’d come back when he joined the boys in blue 
file from: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
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