A soldier kissed his wife goodbye, He was going to the war,

voiceColl. by M.C. Parler Sung by Mrs. Miner Griffin Conway, Ark. December 12, 1953 Heel 179 Item 5 He Never Came Back A soldier kissed his wife goodbye, He was going to the war, The tears they trickled down his cheeks, For the one he did adore, Be faithful until my return, My own sweetheart, he cried, But at the battle of Bull Hun, He like a soldier died, He never came back, ho he never came back, His dear face she'd never see more, For happy she'll be when his dear face she'll see, When they meet on the beautiful shore. A country jake from off the farm, Came in to see our town, And registered at the Smith hotel, As Mr. Hayseed Brown, He took his keys and went upstairs, With whiskers green as grass, Pulled off his boots, jumped into bed, And then blew out the gas. He never came back, no he never came back, And when they broke open the floor, The last word he said, before he dropped dead, Will we meet on the beautiful shore? An old maid just forty-five, Madly fell in love, With a young man who was just nineteen, He called her turtle dove, The wedding they at length arrived, The birds did gaily sing, He pressed her for a hundred pounds, To go out and buy the ring. He never came back, her sailor boy Jack, But he left her upon the top floor, The saucy young thing may bring her the ring, When they meet on the beautiful shore. Coll. by M.C. Parler Reel 179, Item 5 (cont'd) Mrs. Miner Griffin singing He Never Came Back I ran into a resturant, As hungry as a bear, And like a raving maniac, I grabbed the bill of fare, What will you have, the waiter asked, Give me a steak, I say, He took my order, bowed his head, And slowly walked away. He never came back, he never came back, I waited an hour or more, If he don't bring that steak, his neck I will break, When we meet on that beautiful shore.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation