Young Fellow My Lad - Country Joe McDonald

«Where are you going, Young Fellow My Lad

On this glittering morn of May?»

«I'm going to join the Colors, Dad

They’re looking for men, they say.»

«But you’re only a boy, Young Fellow My Lad

You aren’t obliged to go.»

«Well, I’m seventeen and a quarter, Dad

And ever so strong, you know.»

«So you’re off to France, Young Fellow My Lad

And you’re looking so fit and bright.»

«I'm terribly sorry to leave you, dad

But I feel that I’m doing right.»

«God bless you and keep you, Young Fellow My Lad

You’re all of my life, you know.»

«Don't worry.

I’ll soon be back, dear dad

And I’m awfully proud to go.»

«Why don’t you write, Young Fellow My Lad?

I watch for the post each day;

And I miss you so and I’m awfully sad

And it’s months since you went away

And I’ve had the fire in the parlor lit

And I’m keeping it burning bright

Till my boy comes home, and here I sit

Into the quiet night.»

«What is the matter, Young Fellow My Lad?

No letter again to-day

Why did the postman look so sad

And sigh as he turned away?

Well, I hear them tell that we’ve gained new ground

But a terrible price we’ve paid:

God grant, my boy, that you’re safe and sound;

But oh I’m afraid, afraid.»

«They've told me the truth, Young Fellow My Lad

You’ll never come back again:

(Oh God! the dreams and the dreams I’ve had

And the hopes I’ve nursed in vain.)

For you passed in the night, Young Fellow My Lad

And you proved in the cruel test

Of the screaming shell and the battle hell

That my boy was one of the best.»

«So you’ll live, you’ll live, Young Fellow My Lad

In the gleam of the evening star

In the wood-note wild and the laugh of the child

In all sweet things that are

And you’ll never die, my wonderful boy

While life is noble and true:

For all our beauty and hope and joy

We will owe to our lads like you.»