Johnny Home

Gather 'round for a story to be had

Of a six foot six strapping lad

He'd enlist to the navel of his own port stead

To make a name and then return home

A towering man, quiet and shy

He hugged his kids and kissed his wife goodbye

And he said young Billy don't you cry

For soon I'll be coming home

And she wished Johnny would stay home

Johnny came aboard with a gleam in his eye

On the dock below, there stood his wife

Smiling and waving as she said goodbye

And to me she yelled bring Johnny home

Never had we seen such a vaulting man

With a thirst for knowledge and a course well planned

He spoke of his family again and again

And a life he soon would sow

Yea we'd all see Johnny home

And we'd all see Johnny home someday

To his wife and kids, assuring it' okay

And we'd eat and we'd drink and we'd end the day

With a sad 'ol sailors song

And we'd all see Johnny home someday

We'd reminisce and we'd laugh and we'd watch the kids play

And we'd talk about how we're going to spend our days

Yea we'd all see Johnny home

The captain was an undaunted man

He swore he knew his enemy all first hand

And we knew someday he make his stand

If again their paths did cross

It was dark as hell on a ghostly night

The canon fire was the only light

And what we saw next was a sickening sight

And the captain's life was gone

And to the battle, we all saw Johnny run

Johnny jumped in without a fear for his life

As the enemy boarded us starboard side

We were fifteen down and dropping like flies

When I saw Johnny's eyes turn red

And he let forth a scream and a ravenous might

With a pistol in his left and a cutlass in his right

Like a wild hurricane he commenced to fight

This battle's not finished yet!

And to Johnny we owe our debt

And we'd all see Johnny home someday

To his wife and kids, assuring it's okay

And we'd eat and we'd drink and we'd end the day

With a sad 'ol sailors song

And we'd all see Johnny home someday

We'd reminisce and we'd laugh and we'd watch the kids play

And we'd talk about how we're going to spend our days

Yea we'd all see Johnny home

Then the crew joined in until their ship we breeched

We all had the vigor of ten men each

And some did die and some did flee

But in the end our crew stood tall

And we all looked to Johnny now covered in blood

He collapsed to his knees, cursing heaven above

For me punishment here what have I done

And he muttered I failed them all

And we all saw Johnny fall

And we all saw Johnny home that day

To his wife and kids, assuring it's okay

And we told them of the battle on the fifth of May

And not a braver man had fought

And we all broke down when she started to cry

And she fell down beside him and she said goodbye

And the children fell in with her by her side

And for their loss, time stood still

Then anger ensued for the months of prayers

That went unanswered and she drew back her long dark hair

And we all watched as she died a little bit right there

And she stood and addressed me as sir

Thank God you brought Johnny home