FROM BATON ROUGE
From the fierce conflict and the deadly fray
A patriot hero comes to us this day.
A patriot hero comes to us this day.
Greet him with music and with loud acclaim,
And let our hills re-echo with his name.
And let our hills re-echo with his name.
Bring rarest flowers their rich perfume to shed,
Like sweetest incense, round the warrior's head.
Like sweetest incense, round the warrior's head.
Let heart and voice cry "welcome," and a shout,
Upon the summer air, ring gayly out,
Upon the summer air, ring gayly out,
To hail the hero, who from fierce affray
And deadly conflict comes to us this day.
And deadly conflict comes to us this day.
Alas! alas! for smiles ye give but tears,
And wordless sorrow on each face appears.
And wordless sorrow on each face appears.
And for glad music, jubilant and clear,
The tolling bell, the muffled drum, we hear.
The tolling bell, the muffled drum, we hear.
Woe to us, soldier, loyal, tried, and brave,
That we have naught to give thee but a grave.
That we have naught to give thee but a grave.
Woe that the wreath that should have decked thy brow,
Can but be laid upon thy coffin now.
Can but be laid upon thy coffin now.
Woe that thou canst not hear us when we say,—
"Hail to thee, brother, welcome home to-day!"
"Hail to thee, brother, welcome home to-day!"
