SOLDIER SMILES
You may talk of kings and princes,And the glory of their show;You may sing of knights and ladiesIn the days of long ago;You may paint a vivid pictureOf the wonder worlds to see,But the smiles on soldier facesLook the best of all to me.They are gassed and shelled and tortured,They are muddy, thin, and weak;They are shocked and shot and shattered,And you marvel when they speak;They will give their all in battleThat the world may be made free,And their smiles amidst their sorrowsAre real miracles to see.They have smiled since they were babies—Laughter, love have been their charms—And their smiles were patrioticWhen their country called to arms;They go laughing to the trenches,Filling fighting lines with glee,And with smiles they come back wounded—Those are smiles that puzzle me.Kings and kaisers may be mightyAs the bloody brutes of war;They may use the worst of weaponsNever dreamed of e’er before;But they’re sure to meet disasterOver land and on the sea,For the soldier boys of FreedomFight—and smile—the whole world free!Allen A. Stockdale, Capt., U.S.A.
You may talk of kings and princes,And the glory of their show;You may sing of knights and ladiesIn the days of long ago;You may paint a vivid pictureOf the wonder worlds to see,But the smiles on soldier facesLook the best of all to me.They are gassed and shelled and tortured,They are muddy, thin, and weak;They are shocked and shot and shattered,And you marvel when they speak;They will give their all in battleThat the world may be made free,And their smiles amidst their sorrowsAre real miracles to see.They have smiled since they were babies—Laughter, love have been their charms—And their smiles were patrioticWhen their country called to arms;They go laughing to the trenches,Filling fighting lines with glee,And with smiles they come back wounded—Those are smiles that puzzle me.Kings and kaisers may be mightyAs the bloody brutes of war;They may use the worst of weaponsNever dreamed of e’er before;But they’re sure to meet disasterOver land and on the sea,For the soldier boys of FreedomFight—and smile—the whole world free!Allen A. Stockdale, Capt., U.S.A.
You may talk of kings and princes,And the glory of their show;You may sing of knights and ladiesIn the days of long ago;You may paint a vivid pictureOf the wonder worlds to see,But the smiles on soldier facesLook the best of all to me.
You may talk of kings and princes,
And the glory of their show;
You may sing of knights and ladies
In the days of long ago;
You may paint a vivid picture
Of the wonder worlds to see,
But the smiles on soldier faces
Look the best of all to me.
They are gassed and shelled and tortured,They are muddy, thin, and weak;They are shocked and shot and shattered,And you marvel when they speak;They will give their all in battleThat the world may be made free,And their smiles amidst their sorrowsAre real miracles to see.
They are gassed and shelled and tortured,
They are muddy, thin, and weak;
They are shocked and shot and shattered,
And you marvel when they speak;
They will give their all in battle
That the world may be made free,
And their smiles amidst their sorrows
Are real miracles to see.
They have smiled since they were babies—Laughter, love have been their charms—And their smiles were patrioticWhen their country called to arms;They go laughing to the trenches,Filling fighting lines with glee,And with smiles they come back wounded—Those are smiles that puzzle me.
They have smiled since they were babies—
Laughter, love have been their charms—
And their smiles were patriotic
When their country called to arms;
They go laughing to the trenches,
Filling fighting lines with glee,
And with smiles they come back wounded—
Those are smiles that puzzle me.
Kings and kaisers may be mightyAs the bloody brutes of war;They may use the worst of weaponsNever dreamed of e’er before;But they’re sure to meet disasterOver land and on the sea,For the soldier boys of FreedomFight—and smile—the whole world free!Allen A. Stockdale, Capt., U.S.A.
Kings and kaisers may be mighty
As the bloody brutes of war;
They may use the worst of weapons
Never dreamed of e’er before;
But they’re sure to meet disaster
Over land and on the sea,
For the soldier boys of Freedom
Fight—and smile—the whole world free!
Allen A. Stockdale, Capt., U.S.A.