The warship had landed and night come ashore
the fighting was over for me ever more
for i had been wounded they left me forget
a stone for my pillow and snow for my bed
the enemy found me and took me away and made me a prisoner of war so they say
but god in his mercy was with me one day the gate was left open and i ran away
i returned to the old home my sweet wife to see
the home i had built for my darling and me
the door i then opened and there on the stand i saw a picture of her and the man
the clothes she was wearing told me the sad tale
my darling was wearing a new bridal veil
then i found a letter and these words i read missing in action she thought i was dead
[ steel ]
so i kissed her picture and whispered goodbye
my poor heart was breaking but my eyes were dry
i knew it was too late for her now to learn
i knew she must never know i had returned
a vagabond dreamer forever i'll roam
because there was no one to welcome me home
the face of my darling no more i shall see for missing in action forever i'll be