The Express Office
(Traditional)
Performer(s): Paralee Weddington



The express office opened
When an old man worn in years
Entered, an' his tear worn face
Showed signs of grief an' tears
And as the clerk approached him
With trembling voice did say
I'm looking for my boy, sir
He's coming home today

O, you have made a slight mistake
For surely you must know
This is an express office, sir
An' not a town depot
An' if your boy is coming home
With smile the clerk did say
You'll find him with the passengers
At the station o'er the way

You do not understand me, sir
An' the old man shook his head
He's not coming home as a passenger
But by express instead
He's coming home to Mother
An' a tear fell as he said
He's coming in his casket, sir
He's coming to us dead

Just then a whistle pierced his ear
An express train, someone cried
The ole man rose in breathless haste
And quickly rushed outside
An' from the coach a long white box
Was lowered to the ground
The scenes were most heart rendering
To those who stood around

Don't handle it so rough boys
It contains our darling Jack
He went away, as you boys know
See how he's coming back
He broke his dear old Mother's heart
Her warning has come true
She told him he'd be brought back dead
When he joined the boys in Blue