All people of the world continually need to understand
how important an event war is...
how defining it is...how central to who we are. Everything that came before our personal war led up to it, and everything of importance to us, and to our country, is a consequence of war rumbling in our souls, and at the seat of every action. It is true that wars are very much different in logistics and geography, yet wars will always be the same at the core...where there is living and dying, morals gained and innocence lost. Even now there's an echo of continuing war that has stained all veterans' lives. War will always be a determining factor of not only who we are, but our very futures, as well as the futures of wives and children.
"Just Before The Battle Mother," is a classic Civil War poem, but the words are surprisingly very relevant and eternally true to all wars. Here are the original words, and following that is an adaptation it containing the feelings in a Vietnam War Poem written by Gary Jacobson.
I dedicate this page to all the mothers
of all the "boys next door" who have gone to war!
Just Before The Battle Mother
Just before the battle, Mother,
I am thinking most of you;
While upon the field we're watching,
With the enemy in view.
Comrades brave around me lying,
Filled with thoughts of home and God,
For well they know upon the morrow,
Some will sleep beneath the sod.
Chorus: Farewell, Mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again;
But, oh, you'll not forget me, Mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
Oh, I long to see you, Mother,
And the loving ones at home;
But I'll never leave our banner,
'Till in honor I can come.
Tell the traitors all around you
That their cruel words, we know,
In every battle kill our soldiers
By the help they give the foe.
Farewell, Mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again;
But, oh, you'll not forget me, Mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
Hark! I hear the bugles sounding,
'Tis the signal for the fight,
Now may God protect us, Mother,
As he ever does the right.
Hear the "Battle Cry of Freedom,"
How it swells upon the air,
Oh yes, we'll rally round the standard
Or we'll perish nobly there.
Farewell, Mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again;
But, oh, you'll not forget me, Mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
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 Now we jump from the Civil War to another war in a series of wars...Vietnam! Nam was a whole lot of different, but somehow, still very much the same! |
New version of
"Just Before the Battle, Mother,"
by Gary Jacobson © 2001
Just before the battle mother,
I’m thinking Vietnam’s a hard, hard road,
Longing hangs in my heart with horrible dread
For this mother’s son, a heavy load.
Just now thinking of you, mother
Filled with thoughts of home and God,
As I lay waiting for coming battle
Some this night will sleep beneath the sod.
Mother, I hope you know I love you,
With a love that’s pure and true.
I pray memories of me still remain,
If body counts list me with the slain.
Tell me again, beloved mother,
How the bible says to “Love our fellow man.”
Tell me again ma, Help me understand
You see, I no longer think I can.
My best friend was walk’n behind me mother
Talk’n 'bout our cars back home, When BAM,
All of a sudden he was gone mother,
Just gone...so how can I love my fellow man.
When the Army’s put a gun in my hand...
Mother, I hope you know I love you,
With a love that’s pure and true.
I pray memories of me still remain,
If body counts list me with the slain.
Oh, I long to see you, mother
I hear them out there shouting for me.
With every fiber of being I hate my brother,
Every fiber of his being hating me.
I know life is fraught with danger
As they shoot to draw my fire
The Le Hong Fong forest fills with anger
As to kill me Charlie does aspire.
Mother, I hope you know I love you,
With a love that’s pure and true.
I pray memories of me still remain,
If body counts list me with the slain.
Oh mother, how my heart aches for you
As I think of things I took for granted
Picture in my mind the home scene, too
Of my girl, my car beloved...
Now brothers brave around me lying
Now on my mind war’s horror planted,
Trip flares and claymore mines set out waiting,
For Vietcong we’re ever watching.
Mother, I hope you know I love you,
With a love that’s pure and true.
I pray memories of me still remain,
If body counts list me with the slain.
Mother, Charlie hates me with all his soul.
How can I live in this emerald land,
A jungle filled with killing's grim toll?
Where angry men lay dying on every hand,
How, oh how can I love my brother,
How can I go on without God's hand.
I want to bring freedom to another,
But how can I destroy the hate war builds in me.
Mother, I hope you know I love you,
With a love that’s pure and true.
I pray memories of me still remain,
If body counts list me with the slain.
Veterans rally, Lo after these many years,
Mother's gone now, but not forgotten,
Left me heartbreak and flowing tears.
Look at all the gray hair we’ve gotten
Patriots to the core, but wiser now,
But still in the Nam walking "the park."
We’ve spent so long in this valley of shadow
Hoping to find our soul 'fore life gets dark.
Mother, I hope you know I love you,
With a love that’s pure and true.
I pray memories of me still remain,
If body counts list me with the slain.
Click the Combat Infantry Badgeto go to my Vietnam Poetry index, each poem
with more action graphics and Pictures
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From the lens of a combat infantryman.