WE DIDN'T ASK TO GO TO WAR,

WE NEVER ASKED WHAT THE WAR WAS FOR,

WE WENT TO THE FRONT, OUR GUNS AT OUR SIDE,

LEAVING MY MUM, MY DAD, AND MY BRIDE.

THE ORDER CAME FOR US TO FIGHT,

IT WAS COLD, DAMP, THE DEAD OF NIGHT,

THEY ORDERED THE CHARGE,

OUR TIME HAD COME,

IS THIS WHY A MUM RAISES HER SON?

MY MATE BILL HE STARTED TO CRY,

WE WERE GOING TO KILL, BUT DIDN'T ASK WHY,

ALL AROUND THE  GUNS AND THE SCREAMS,

THEY'D SHATTERED OUR LIVES,

THEY'D SHATTERED OUR DREAMS.

THE CRY WENT UP, OUR BAYONETS FIXED

BY BREAK OF DAY WE'D HAVE THIS WAR LICKED,

ACROSS THE PLANE AND OUT IN THE FIELD,

WE WOULD FIGHT OUR RIGHTS, SEE EACH MAN KILLED.

BUT STIFF UPPER LIP, AND ON WITH THE ASSULT,

YOU AT HOME GIVE US SOME THOUGHT,

JUST ARMED WITH A BAYONET, PISTOL OR GUN,

IS THIS WHAT A MUM WANTS FOR HER SON?

SO AS I LAY IN THE MUD SO COLD,

AND KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER GROW OLD,

MY MUM, MY DAD, MY BRIDE WILL WAIT,

A MESSAGE WILL COME, ALL TOO LATE.

THEY WILL SAY WE WERE BRAVE, WE GAVE IT OUR ALL

DID WHAT EXPECTED, AND ANSWERED THE CALL,

SO MY TIME TO DIE HAS COME,

IS THIS WHY A MUM RAISES HER SON?