Valley of Kilbride by The Once Lyrics
On the battle field in sunny France a hero brave did stand;
He thought of friends he loved so well in dear old Newfoundland
When a vision bright did gain his view, the dear old riverside
And the home he loved in boyhood days in the Valley of Kilbride
A comrade he lay wounded, lay dying on the field
Those plucky Newfoundlanders, they died before they yielded
On no man's land they rushed across, where shot and shell do fly
On no man’s land they rushed across, you could hear their charging cry
No coward's blood runs through their veins, they'll conquer now or die
They gained the front line trenches from the enemy that day;
While on their right or on their left, machine guns they did fly
When the dying comrade raised his head, a signal to draw nigh
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to hear."
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to know."
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to tell
To my father and my mother, likewise my sister Nell
Tell mother not to weep for me but pray for me each day
And whisper words of comfort, Jack, to her that’s far away;
And whisper words of comfort, Jack, and take her by the hand
And tell her in that July Drive, how bravely I did stand
There's another one who waits for me, and thinks that I'll come home;
Go and tell her that in Bowring Park, we never more shall roam
We never more shall meet on earth, since you and I must part
But still her memory lingers yet, within my bleeding heart
There's a photo that she gave to me lies closely by my side
You can scarcely recognize it now for with my blood it's dyed;
You can scarcely recognize it now, but you will be sure to know
It's a photo that she gave to me not a few short months ago."
His voice grew weak, he scarce could speak, he freely grasped my hand
He says, "Dear Jack, do not forget to bring tidings to Newfoundland
He says, "Dear Jack, do not forget how the blood flowed from my side;
God comfort my dear mother in the Valley of Kilbride
I know that you will miss me Jack for soon we have to part
I know that I won't live long with the pain that's in my heart;
I know that I am dying with the pain that’s in my side
My home I never more will see in the Valley of Kilbride
I know that you will miss me Jack when you are all alone
My grave will be in sunny France far from my native home
My grave will be in sunny France way out on no man’s land
And the dark-haired girl will weep for me in dear old Newfoundland."
He thought of friends he loved so well in dear old Newfoundland
When a vision bright did gain his view, the dear old riverside
And the home he loved in boyhood days in the Valley of Kilbride
A comrade he lay wounded, lay dying on the field
Those plucky Newfoundlanders, they died before they yielded
On no man's land they rushed across, where shot and shell do fly
On no man’s land they rushed across, you could hear their charging cry
No coward's blood runs through their veins, they'll conquer now or die
They gained the front line trenches from the enemy that day;
While on their right or on their left, machine guns they did fly
When the dying comrade raised his head, a signal to draw nigh
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to hear."
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to know."
He says, "Dear Jack, those parting words I want for you to tell
To my father and my mother, likewise my sister Nell
Tell mother not to weep for me but pray for me each day
And whisper words of comfort, Jack, to her that’s far away;
And whisper words of comfort, Jack, and take her by the hand
And tell her in that July Drive, how bravely I did stand
There's another one who waits for me, and thinks that I'll come home;
Go and tell her that in Bowring Park, we never more shall roam
We never more shall meet on earth, since you and I must part
But still her memory lingers yet, within my bleeding heart
There's a photo that she gave to me lies closely by my side
You can scarcely recognize it now for with my blood it's dyed;
You can scarcely recognize it now, but you will be sure to know
It's a photo that she gave to me not a few short months ago."
His voice grew weak, he scarce could speak, he freely grasped my hand
He says, "Dear Jack, do not forget to bring tidings to Newfoundland
He says, "Dear Jack, do not forget how the blood flowed from my side;
God comfort my dear mother in the Valley of Kilbride
I know that you will miss me Jack for soon we have to part
I know that I won't live long with the pain that's in my heart;
I know that I am dying with the pain that’s in my side
My home I never more will see in the Valley of Kilbride
I know that you will miss me Jack when you are all alone
My grave will be in sunny France far from my native home
My grave will be in sunny France way out on no man’s land
And the dark-haired girl will weep for me in dear old Newfoundland."