LINDEN LANE

Birds are merry and the buds

Come along with May:

Lonely is the linden land

For lads that went today.

What calls the May of song

But the fair young spring?

Heard our boys another tune

Sterner voices sing.

Bugles blew by land and sea,

And the tocsin drum;

See, brave hearts go down the hill,

Shouting, “Hail, we come.”

From the towers that show the Cross,

Staunch the Flag waved out,

And the royal Purple shook

Joyous with the shout.

Heigh-ho! And a lusty cheer,

Down the linden lane:

The pine grove looked but cannot tell

If they'll come home again.

Few may take the homeward road

When the war is done:

Where they fall or when they come,

Hail, to the cause they won.

Till the buds and the merry birds

Come another May,

Cross and Flag aloft shall bless

Brave lads who went today.