Bingen On The Rhine - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
BINGEN ON THE RHINE. Recited with great success by A. J. Jackson. 
A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers; There was lack of woman's nursing; there was dearth of woman's tears; But a comrade stood beside him, while his life-blood ebbed away, And bent, with pitying glances, to hear what he might say. The dying soldier faltered as he took that comrad's hand. And he said: I never more shall gee my own, my native land; Take a message and a token to some distant friends of mine. For I was born at Bingen-at Bingen on the Rhine. 
Tell my brothers and companions, when they meet and crowd around To hear my mournful story, in the pleasant vineyard ground; That we fought the battle bravely, and, when the day was done, Full many a corpse lay, ghastly pale, beneath the setting sun; And midst the dead and dying were some grown old in wars. The death wound on their gallant breast, the last of many scars. But some were young, and suddenly beheld life's morn decline, And one had come from Bingen, fair Bingen on the Rhine! 
Tell my mother that her other son shall comfort her old age; And I was, aye, a truant bird, that thought his home a cage; For my father was a soldier, and even as a child My heart leaped forth to hear him tell of struggles fierce and wild; And when he died, and left us to divide his scanty hoard, I left them take whate'er they would, but kept my father's sword; And, with boyish love, I hung it where the bright light used to shine On the cottage wall at Bingen, calm Bingen on the Rhine. 
Tell my sister not to weep for me, and sob with drooping head-When the troops are marching home again, with glad and gallant tread. But to look upon them proudly, with calm and steadfast eye, For her brother was a soldier, too, and not afraid to die. And if a comrade seek her love. I ask her in my name, To listen to him kindly, without regret or shame. And to hang the old sword in its place (my father's sword and mine) For the honor of old Bingen, dear Bingen on the Rhine 
There's another-not a sister-in the happy days gone by You'd have known her by the merriment that sparkled in her eye; Too innocent for coquetry, too fond for idle scorning-Oh! friend. I fear the lightest heart makes sometimes heaviest mourning! Tell her the last night of my life (for ere this moon be risen My body will be out of pain, my soul be out of prison), I dreamed I stood with her. and saw the yellow sunlight shine On the vine-clad hills of Bingen, fair Bingen on the Rhine! 
I saw the blue Rhine sweep along; I heard, or seemed to hear, The German songs w e used to sing in chorus sweet And clear, And down the pleasant river, And up the slanting hill. That echoing chorus sounded through the evening calm and still; And her glad blue eyes were on me as we passed, with friendly talk, Down many a paih beloved of yore, and well remembered walk. And her little hand lay lightly, confidingly in mine-But we'll meet no more at Bingen, loved Bingen on the Rhine! 
His voice grew faint and hoarser; his grasp was childish weak; His eyes put on a dying look-he sighed And ceased to speak; His comrade bent to lift him, but the spark of life had fled-The soldier of the Legion in a foreign land was dead! And the soft moon rose up slowly, And calmly she looked down On the red sand of the battle-field, with bloody corpses strown-Yes, calmly on that dreadful scene her pale light seemed to shine, As it shone on distant Bingen, fair Bingen on the Rhine