A popular song from 1899
words and music by Paul Dresser
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- In far off Santiago
When the troops were coming home
A soldier boy was left behind to die
“I want to go home with you
They will miss me there I’m sure
Don’t leave me here behind” I heard him cry
The transports sailed away
On a burning summer’s day
And as they lazily put out to sea
It seemed that o’er the bay
As tho’ from far away
Came the last words that he’d said to me
Refrain
“Take me back to New York Town
If I’m going to die
I’ve a longing to be there
I long but don’t know why
Perhaps there’s little now to gain
The clock of time’s run down
I feel that I could rest in peace
In good old New York town”
- All alone they left him
With a burning fever there
What the end would be no one could tell
But loving hands and hearts were
Swiftly coming o’er the sea
To take him to the place he loved so well
Neglect and cruel fate
Made their coming all too late
The seal of death was written in his eye
“I’ve only one request
Take me home, I want to rest
In good old New York if I’m going to die”