From the Civil War come several of these songs. George Root's "JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE MOTHER" is in the database along with a 20th century humorous parody. The following song by C.C. Sawyer is less well known. It is supposedly based on an incident wherein a Yankee soldier from New York was wounded and captured. He was taken to a hospital where the attendant told him there was nothing more that could be done and that he must die. Purportedly his last words were the title of the song.

MOTHER WOULD COMFORT ME
[by C.C. Sawyer (186?)]

Wounded and sorrowful, far from my home,
Sick among strangers, uncared for, unknown
Even the birds that used sweetly to sing
Are silent and swiftly have taken the wing
No one but Mother can cheer me today
No one for me could so fervently pray;
None to console me, no kind friend is near,
Mother would comfort me if she were here.

CH:
Gently her hand o'er my forehead she'd press
Trying to free me from pain and distress
Kindly she'd say to me, "Be of good cheer.
Mother wil comfort you, Mother is here!"

If she were with me, I soon would forget
My pain and my sorrow, no more would I fret
One kiss from her lips, or one look from her eye,
Would make me contented, and willing to die!
Gently her hand o'er my forehead she'd press
Trying to free me from pain and distress;
Kindly she'd say to me, "Be of good cheer,
Mother will comfort you, Mother is here!"

CH

Cheerfully, faithfully, Mother would stay
Always beside me, by night and by day;
If I should murmur or wish to complain
Her gentle voice would soon calm me again.
Sweetly a Mother's love shines like a star ,
Brightest in darkness, when daylight's afar;
In clouds or in sunshine, pleasures or pain,
Mother's affection is ever the same.

CH

Excuse me while I go get tissue.

rich r