One morning when the office was opened
A man quite old in years
Entered the express office

Showing signs of grief and tears
And when the clerk approached him
The old man then did say

I'm waiting for my boy, sir
He's coming home today


Well. you have made a silly mistake
And you must surely know
This is the telegraph office, Sir

And not a town depot
If your boy is coming home
The clerk did smile and say

You'll find him with the passengers, Sir
At the station just all the way


You do not understand me, Sir
The old man shook his head
He's not a-coming as a passenger

But by express instead
He's coming home to mother
The old man softly said

He's coming home in a casket, Sir
He's coming to us dead


Then a whistle pierced their ears
The express train someone cry
The old man rose in a breathless haste

And quickly rushed outside
Then a long white casket
Was lowered to the ground

The scene was filled with the grief and pain
Of those who gathered around


Do not treat him harshly, boys
It contains our darling Jack
He went away as you boys are

This way he's coming back
He broke his poor old mother's heart
Her fears have all come true

She said, it's the way that he'd come back
If he joined the boys in blue