A Soldier's Rosary

by J. E. Dempsey

A mother's last words
To ev'ry soldier
"kneel down at night and say your prayers"
But he's so weary,
Thro'days so dreary,
After all his trails and cares,
Don't worry mother,
He serves his Maker
when he serves his country's needs.
No matter where each act is a pray'r
and they form the links up on a soldier's beads.

When bells are tolling
Our hearts consoling
we seek the chapel o'er the way
When cannons thunder
Would we I wonder
Ever take the time to pray,
The foe before him,
No shelter o'er him
overhead the cold stars shine.
His Maker knows as onward he goes
that his pray'r is better far than yours or mine."

Chorus
For his thoughts keep returning homeward
and their pray'rs come drifting back that's his chaplet
and his guide to victory,
But bullets are his beads and on his knees
he pleads that each one will help to end the misery,
Ev'ry shot a pearl, each pearl a pray'r
he fights untill he falls,
"Lost in action" comes the message o'er the sea.
And while the nation mourns his loss
his dear old mother bears the cross
that's a soldier's rosary.