[Verse 1]
One morning when the office had opened
A man quite old in years
Stood beside the express office
Showing signs of grief and tears

[Verse 2]
When the clerk approached him
His trembling words did say
'I'm waiting for my boy, sir
He's coming home today'

[Verse 3]
'Well you have made a sad mistake
And you must surely know
That this is the telegraph office, sir
And not a town depot'

[Verse 4]
'If your boy is coming home'
The clerk with a smile smile did say
'You'll find him with the passengers, sir
At the station just all thе way'

[Verse 5]
'You do not understand me, sir'
The old man shook his hеad
'He's not a-coming as a passenger
But by express instead'
[Verse 6]
'He's coming home to mother'
The old man gently said
'He's coming home in a casket, sir
He's coming to us dead'

[Verse 7]
Just then a whistle pierced their ears
The express came on time
The old man rose in a breathless haste
And quickly rushed outside

[Verse 8]
And then a long white casket
Was lowered to the ground
Showing signs of grief and tears
To those who gathered around

[Verse 9]
'Do not use him roughly, boys
It contains our darling Jack
He went away as you boys are
See how he's coming back?'

[Verse 10]
'He broke his poor old mother's heart
Her sayings all came true
She said, this is the way that he'd come back
When he joined the boys in blue'