Am I the kind of brother who would leave you
Standing on this lonesome railroad track?
That's what I told you on the way to America
I swore by our God I'd be coming back

When the roses are blooming
You can call me home
And I will stay there forever
My flesh and bone

I wanted to see you that Christmas
But I got a letter I was being sent to war
I packed up the Bible that you gave me
And I prayed for protection beneath the watch of the Lord

When the roses are blooming
You can call me home
And I will stay there forever
My flesh and bone

There is a garden
I can see it from my bed
Reminds me of Ireland
Flowering yellow and red

I've been trying to write you but I keep stopping
All I've got to say is war is hell
I keep thinking about the soldiers coming at me

Not the ones that shot me but the ones that I brought down myself
And I don't think Jesus ever heard my prayer
If there's a heaven, I ain't going there

When the roses are blooming
You can call me home
And I will stay there forever
My flesh and bone