Oh the cruel war is raging

Your daddy must fight

And I know I will miss you

From morning till night

You cannot go with me

It grieves my heart so

You cannot go with me

Oh no my son no



For your waist is to slender

Your fingers to small

And your cheeks are to tender

To take the cannon-ball

They will give me shiny medals

They'll call "the killing brave"

But I'd rather hold my darling son

Then fill a thousand graves



I will fight through the winter

Through Summer, Spring and Fall

And there's many a man that I will kill

That I never known at all

O listen, oh listen to me Johnny

And heave my story well

There's no glory in the killing

Just the agony of hell



Oh the cruel war is raging

Your daddy must fight

And I know I will miss you

From morning till night