The Once - Valley Of Kilbride Lyrics

On the battle field in sunny France
A hero brave did stand
He thought of friends he loved so well
In dear old Newfoundland
When a vision bright did gain his view
The dear old riverside
And the home he loved in boyhood days
In the Valley of Kilbride

A comrade he lay wounded
Lay dying on the field
Those plucky Newfoundlanders
They died before they yielded
On no man's land they rushed across
Where shot and shell do fly
On no man's land they rushed across
You could hear their charging cry

No coward's blood runs through their veins
They'll conquer now or die
They gained the front line
Trenches from the enemy that day
While on their right or on their left
Machine guns they did fly
When the dying comrade raised his head
A signal to draw night

He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to hear"
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to know"
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to tell
To my father and my mother, likewise my sister Nell

Tell mother not to weep for me but pray for me each day
And whisper words of comfort
Jack, to her that's far away
And whisper words of comfort
Jack, and take her by the hand
And tell her in that July Drive, how bravely I did stand

There's another one who waits for me
And thinks that I'll come home
Go and tell her that in Bowring Park
We never more shall roam
We never more shall meet on earth
Since you and I must part
But still her memory lingers yet
Within my bleeding heart

There's a photo that she gave to me
Lies closely by my side
You can scarcely recognize it now
For with my blood it's dyed
You can scarcely recognize it no
But you will be sure to know
It's a photo that she gave to me
Not a few short months ago

His voice grew weak, he scarce could speak, he freely grasped my hand
He says, "Dear Jack, do not forget to bring tidings to Newfoundland
He says, "Dear Jack, do not forget how the blood flowed from my side
God comfort my dear mother in the Valley of Kilbride

I know that you will miss me Jack for soon we have to part
I know that I won't live long with the pain that's in my heart
I know that I am dying with the pain that's in my side
My home I never more will see in the Valley of Kilbride

I know that you will miss me Jack when you are all alone
My grave will be in sunny France far from my native home
My grave will be in sunny France way out on no man's land
And the dark-haired girl will weep for me in dear old Newfoundland