A WWI song from 1915
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- There’s a land where hearts are aching
And eyes are wet with tears
It’s the land where hearts start breaking
When the smoke of battle clears
There’s a voice that seems to haunt me
When the shades of night appear
‘Tis the mournful voice of Belgium
Ringing in my ear
Refrain
I hear the voice of Belgium calling
Far across the sea
I speak of wives and mothers
Waiting patiently
I hear the cries of children praying
Sad as they could be
I can hear them say, “Please
Send my Daddy back to me”
- Hear a voice that rings with sorrow
It mournfully imparts
That the news of each tomorrow
Means a thousand broken hearts
See a hand stretch’d out for mercy
With a plea to every man
‘Tis the call for help from Belgium
Answer, if you can
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: