He Never Came Back was written by William Jerome in 1892 and can be viewed here:
http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/levy-cgi/display.cgi?id=141.006.001;pages=4;range=0-3


HE NEVER CAME BACK
Words and Music by William Jerome.
Boston: Oliver Ditson Co., 1892.

1. A soldier kissed his wife goodbye. He was going to the war.
The tears they trickled down the face of the one he did adore.
"Be patient until I return, my own sweetheart," he cried,
But at the battle of Bull Run, he like a soldier died.

CHORUS: He never came back.
He never came back.
His dear form she never saw more.
But how happy she'll be
When his sweet face she'll see
When they meet on that beautiful shore.

2. I went into a restaurant as hungry as a bear,
And like a raving maniac, I grabbed the bill of fare.
The waiter said, "What will you have?" "Bring me a steak," I say.
He took my order, bowed his head, and slowly walked away.

CHORUS: He never came back.
He never came back.
I waited an hour or more,
But his face I will break
If he's not got that steak
When we meet on that beautiful shore.

3. I went to see the Barnum's show and took my mother-in-law.
She laughed at ev'rything she saw until it broke her jaw.
Outside the tent, a big balloon it proved to be my friend.
I shoved her in, then cut the rope, and up she did ascend.

CHORUS: She never came back.
She never came back,
But high in the air she did soar,
And I'm happy tonight
That she's way out of sight
Till we meet on that beautiful shore.

4. A jay that lived "down on the farm" came in to see the town
And registered at Smith's Hotel as Mister Hayseed Brown.
He took his key and went upstairs with whiskers green as grass,
Pulled off his boots, jumped into bed, and then blew out the gas.

CHORUS: He never came back.
He never came back.
And when they broke open the door,
The last words he said,
Before he dropped dead,
Were, "We'll meet on that beautiful shore."

5. An old maid who was forty-five, she madly fell in love,
And with a young man just nineteen who called her turtledove.
The wedding day at last arrived. The birds did gaily sing.
He touched her for a hundred to go out and buy the ring.

CHORUS: He never came back,
Her sailor boy Jack,
But left her up on the top floor.
The sassy young thing,
He may bring her the ring
When they meet on that beautiful shore.

Fiddlin' John Carson first recorded the song in 1926 as "When We Meet on that Beautiful Shore." The Carters recorded theirs in 1937:

HE NEVER CAME BACK- Carter Family

An old Jane about 49 came in to view the town
She registered up at Smith's Hotel as Miss Ada Brown
She said she was just 25 and that she was in love
With a young lad about 16, she called him her turtledove

The wedding day at last arrived, the birds did merrily sing
He touched her up for a hundred to go out and buy the ring

    He never came back, no, he never came back
    He's been gone for a year or more
    That sassy young thing better have that ring
    When we meet on that beautiful shore

    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]


I went down to a restaurant as hungry as a bear
And a raving thief I did, I grabbed the bill of fare
The waiter said, now what for you, a piece of steak, I said
He taken my order and bowed his head and slowly walked away

    No, he never came back, no, he never came back
    I waited an hour or more
    His neck I will break if he has not that steak
    When we meet on that beautiful shore