‘By-and-bye, ’ the maiden sighed – ‘by-and-bye br He will claim me for his bride, br Hope is strong and time is fleet; br Youth is fair, and love is sweet, br Clouds will pass that fleck my sky, br He will come back by-and-bye.’ br br ‘By-and-bye, ’ the soldier said – ‘by-and-bye, br After I have fought and bled, br I shall go home from the wars, br Crowned with glory, seamed with scars, br Joy will flash from some one’s eye br When she greets me by-and-bye- by-and-bye.’ br br ‘By-and-bye, ’ the mother cried – ‘by-and-bye, br Strong and sturdy at my side, br Like a staff supporting me, br Will my bonnie baby be. br Break my rest, then, wail and cry – br Thou’lt repay me by-and-bye - by-and-bye.’ br br Fleeting years of time have sped – hurried by – br Still the maiden is unwed: br All unknown soldier lies, br Buried under alien skies; br And the son, with blood-shot eye, br Saw his mother starve and die.