Send them home tenderly, br The sleepers at rest, br With hands meekly folded br On each silent breast; br Let them come back to slumber br Beneath northern skies, br Where true hearts may weep o’er them, br And prayer incense rise. br br Send them home tenderly, br The noble and true, br Scarce gone from their hearthstones - br Scarce whispered 'Adieu' br Gone forth for their country, br It’s rights to sustain, br But, all bleeding and lifeless, br Returning again. br br Send them home tenderly, br Our martyr'd and brave, br With the stripes and stars round them, br All robed for the grave. br Bereaved mothers shall clasp them br In pride to their breast, br And the good of our nation br Shall weep where they rest. br br Send them home tenderly, br Each wound gaping wide br Shall send myriads of voices br From the dark purple tide; br And strong hands shall be grasping br The bright, unsheath'd sword, br With fresh fervor to battle br For right and the Lord.