My brave lad he sleeps in his faded coat of blue,
in a lonely grave unknown lies the heart that beat so true;
he sank faint and hungry among the famished brave,
and they laid him sad and lonely within his nameless grave.
Chorus:
No more the bugle calls the weary one,
rest noble spirit, in thy grave unknown!
I'll find you and know you among the good and true,
when a robe of white is giv'n for the faded coat of blue.
He cried, "give me water and just a little crumb,
and my Mother, she will bless you through all the years to come;
Oh! Tell my sweet sister, so gentle, good and true,
that I'll meet her up in heav'n in my faded coat of blue."
Chorus
He said, "My dear comrades, you cannot take me home,
but you'll mark my grave for Mother, she'll find me if she'll come;
I fear she'll not know me, among the good and true.
When I meet her up in Heav'n in my faded coat of blue."
Chorus
Long, long years have vanished, and though he comes no more,
yet my heart with startling beats with each footfall at my door;
I gaze o'er the hill where he waved a last adieu,
but no gallant lad I see in his faded coat of blue.
Chorus
No sweet voice was there, breathing soft a mother's prayer.
But there's One who takes the brave and the true in tender care.
No stone marks the sod o'er my lad so brave and true,
in his lonely grave he sleeps in his faded coat of blue.
