It's hard to keep tears out of my eyes For this may be our last goodbye Your country calls you to defend this land You’ll do your part just like a man Down where the river bends With God's help we'll meet again Under the same old sycamore tree Proud of each other and the land of the free I go down to the ocean blue And be as close as I can to you Though this old ocean my keep us apart It can't keep you dear out of my heart Down where the river bends With God's help we'll meet again Under the same old sycamore tree Proud of each other and the land of the free If the worst should happen and the poppies should wave Over your far and lonely grave All the rest of my life I'll spend in prayer I'll meet you in heaven there's no war there Down where the river bends With God's help we'll meet again Under the same old sycamore tree Proud of each other and the land of the free