The Custer Wail. By A. H. Laidlaw

    Dead! Where the bold and brave
    Blend in one bloody grave;
    Dead! With no coward clay
    Weltering in gore that day.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! With his boys in blue,
    Baptized in bloody dew.
    Dead! Where his enemy
    Fled from his fearless eye.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Like a meteor,
    Flashed o’er the field of war.
    Dead! With immortal pride,
    Glorious and glorified.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the captives sing
    Saved by his rifle’s ring.
    Dead! Where the painted brave
    Bled by his gory glaive.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the feathered game
    Fell at his deadly aim.
    Dead! Where the buffalo
    Found him a gallant foe.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the prairie steed
    Vainly exerts his speed.
    Dead! Where the antlered stag
    Dies on the dizzy crag.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the valleys sink
    Low to the river’s brink.
    Dead! Where the mountains spring
    Higher than eagle’s wing.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the solar glows
    Eastward and upward rose.
    Dead! Where the evening’s gold
    Westward and downward rolled.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the streamy vales
    Murmur their tender tales.
    Dead! Where the ocean’s roll
    Sobs for the passing soul.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the thicket’s throats
    Mingle their million notes.
    Dead! Where the forests dim
    Tone their lone requiem.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where the eagle’s scream
    Shortens the hunter’s dream.
    Dead! Where the nightingale
    Trills out her lonely tale.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where no maiden fair
    Weaves with his waving hair.
    Dead! Where no darling sips
    Life from his loving lips.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Where no woman’s breast,
    Robbed of her love and rest,
    Flower with a fading leaf,
    Sinks in her silent grief.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to me.

    Dead! Nevermore to be.
    Dead! Nevermore to be.
    Dead! Evermore to me.
    Dead! Evermore to me.
    Dead! Dead! Ah! – Dead to ME!