I once knew a soldier, a young boy he was
On the battlefield he fought, his freedom his cause
He was only fifteen as he wielded a sword
And an old rusty shield, 'twas a gift from his lord
The middle of winter snow fell to the ground
Under dark and dank skies he was making his rounds
Through fire lit camps, slowly walking along
He heard a voice singing a saddening song
Sing me a song of the battles we've lost
Sing me a song of the battles we've won
Sing me a song of the friends we have kept
Sing me a song of the soldiers long gone
Sing me a song, Sing me a song, sing me a song of the days long ago
Well the soldier he sat and he listened a bit
To the old man's sad story, his lonely face lit
He told the men stories of battles he'd fought
Winters he'd weathered and long summers hot
The fire got warmer as he told a tale
Of a young girl he loved, and that love would not fail
But it got much colder as he shed a tear
She had died by the sword, 'twas his only fear
Sing me a song of the battles we've lost
Sing me a song of the battles we've won
Sing me a song of the friends we have kept
Sing me a song of the soldiers long gone
Sing me a song, Sing me a song, sing me a song of the days long ago
Well the man had made friends and he'd lost them in battle
He had fought on the ground, he had killed in the saddle
He had fought for his religion, he had fought for his king
Hs had fought for religion, the dead, and living
He finished his story, no man said a word
They all sat in silence, their minds in a whirl
They each had a lover or family at home
Some had their friends and some were alone
Sing me a song of the battles we've lost
Sing me a song of the battles we've won
Sing me a song of the friends we have kept
Sing me a song of the soldiers long gone
Sing me a song, Sing me a song, sing me a song of the days long ago
I go and I listen to the old man's story
Of the battles he's fought and those days of glory
I sit with a smile as others do too
For this is the young soldier everyone knew
Sing me a song of the battles we've lost
Sing me a song of the battles we've won
Sing me a song of the friends we have kept
Sing me a song of the soldiers long gone
Sing me a song, Sing me a song, sing me a song of the days long ago