Print This Page#01810 Print This Page
I travelled through life and saw many's the sight,
Which deprived me of sunshine and fun;
I work wit' a spade and I work wit' a plough,
From sunset to sunrise next morn.
When the day's work is over to town I do go,
Always for pleasure and joy;
In going away my poor mother would say,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy.
Be home early tonight, my dear boy,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy;
In going away my poor mother would say,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy.
One night leaving home, my poor mother bein' ill,
With fever, torture, and pain;
She said, my dear boy, take this lesson I'll give,
For you'll never see mother again.
Be home early tonight, my dear boy,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy;
In going away my poor mother would say,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy.
One night turning home from my night's fun and joy,
And found that my mother was dead;
'Twas then a cold chill through my body did drill,
When I thought on the last words she said.
Come all ye young men take a word from a friend,
To your mothers and fathers attend;
For a good mother's love will ne'er be forgot,
When you lose her you'll lose your best friend.
Be home early tonight, my dear boy,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy;
In going away my poor mother would say,
Be home early tonight, my dear boy.
Collected in 1951 from Mrs. Stamp of St. Vincent's, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A shorter variant was collected in 1950 from Mrs. John Powers [b.ca.1916] of Tors Cove, NL, and published as Be Home Early Tonight in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
