Cat. #0626 (MFH #466) - As sung by Paralee Weddington, Busch, Arkansas on March 7, 1968
VERSE 1
The express office opened
When an old man worn in years
Entered, an' his tear worn face
Showed signs of grief an' tears
And as th clerk approached him
With trembling voice did say,
I'm looking for my boy, sir
He's coming home today
VERSE 2
O, you have made a slight mistake
For surely you must know
This is an express office, sir
An' not a town depot
An' if your boy is coming home,
With smile th clerk did say,
You'll find him with th passengers
At th station o'er th way
VERSE 3
You do not understand me, sir
An' the old man shook his head
He's not coming home as a passenger
But by express instead
He's coming home to Mother
An' a tear fell as he said,
He's coming in his casket, sir,
He's coming to us dead
VERSE 4
Just then a whistle pierced his ear
An express train, someone cried
Th ole man rose in breathless haste
And quickly rushed outside
An' from th coach a long white box
Was lowered to th ground
The scenes were most heart rendering
To those who stood around
VERSE 5
Don't handle it so rough boys,
It contains our darling Jack
He went away, as you boys know
See how he's coming back
He broke his dear old Mothers heart
Her warning has come true
She told him he'd be brought back dead
When he joined th boys in Blue