THE SOLDIER'S LAST LETTER
Words and music by Ernest Tubb and Sgt. Henry Stewart, ©1944.
As recorded by Ernest Tubb

1. When the postman delivered a letter,
It filled her dear heart full of joy,
But she didn't know till she read the inside
It was the last one from her darling boy.

2. "Dear Mom" was the way that it started.
"I miss you so much," it went on.
"Mom, I didn't know that I loved you so,
But I'll prove it when this war is won.

3. "I'm writing this down in a trench, Mom.
Don't scold if it isn't so neat,
You know, as you did when I was a kid,
And I'd come home with mud on my feet.

4. "The Captain just gave us our orders,
And, Mom, we will carry them through.
I'll finish this letter the first chance I get,
But now I'll just say, I love you."

5. Then the mother's old hands began to tremble,
And she fought against tears in her eyes,
But they came unashamed, for there was no name,
And she knew that her darling had died.

6. That night as she knelt by her bedside,
She prayed, "Lord above, hear my plea,
And protect all the sons that are fighting tonight,
And dear God, keep America free."


[D] The postman delivered the [A] letter
And it filled her poor heart full of [D] joy
She didn't [D7] know until she [G] read the in-[B7]-side
It was the [E7] last one from [A7] her darling boy.