Cat. #1547 (MFH #466) - As sung by Melvin Rogers, Ava, Missouri on April 8, 1975
VERSE 1
The office had just opened
When a man quite worn in years
He entered on his tear worn face
Was silent, grief an' care
Th clerk had just approached him
In a friendly voice he said
I'm waiting for my boy, sir
Who's coming home today
VERSE 2
Well, you made a slight mistake, sir
For truly you must know
That this is n' express office
An' not a train depot
An' if your boy's coming home today
With a smile th clerk did say
You'll find him with th passengers
At th depot o'er th way
VERSE 3
O, no, you do not understand me
The ole man shook his head
He's not coming home as a passenger
But by express instead
He's coming home to Mother dear
Whose warnings were so true
He's coming home in a casket, sir
He's coming to us dead
VERSE 4
Just then th whistle pierced the air
An' express train, someone cried
The ole man rose in breathless haste
An' quickly passed outside
Then from th coach a long white box
Was lowered to th ground
Th scene was a heart most rending one
To those who gathered 'round
VERSE 5
Don't handle th casket roughly boys
It contains our darling, Jack
He went away as you boys are
See how he's coming back
It almost broke his Mother's heart
Who's warnings were so true
She said, he'd be brought back to her dead
When he joined th boys in blue