Boxcar Willie – Play The Star Bangled Banner Over Me lyrics

Play the Star Spangled Banner over me,
For I have stood my last reveille.
Place our flag upon my chest when they lay me down to rest.
Play the Star Spangled Banner over me.
A young soldier boy lay dyin' in the sand.
Chaplain knelt bedside him, and gently held his hand.
The words that he spoke could barely be heard,
But as the Father listened he heard these dying words.

"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me,
"For I have stood my last reveille.
"Place our flag upon my chest when they lay me down to rest.
"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me.

"Please tell my Dad that I died like a man.
"Please ask my Mom to try and understand.
"Tell the folks an' friends back home I did all I could.
"I did my duty like a soldier should.

"And play the Star Spangled Banner over me,
"For I have stood my last reveille.
"Place our flag upon my chest when they lay me down to rest.
"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me.

"I have always loved the old Red, White an' Blue.
"For that grand old flag, I have always been true.
"But as I am on my way to my eternity,
"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me.

"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me,
"Then I will sleep in peace, eternally.
"And when they lay me in the ground, let me hear the buglers sound.
"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me.
"Play the Star Spangled Banner over me."