The Vacant Chair Songtext
von 2nd South Carolina String Band

Oh, we shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev′ning prayer

When a year ago we gathered
Joy was in his mild blue eye
But a golden cord is severed
And our hopes in ruin lie

Oh, we shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev'ning prayer

At our fireside, sad and lonely
Often will the bosom swell
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell


How he strove to bear our banner
Through the thickest of the fight
And uphold our country′s honor
In the strength of manhood's might

Oh, we shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev'ning prayer

It′s true they tell us wreaths of glory
Evermore will deck his brow
But this soothes the anguish only
Sweeping o′er our heartstrings now

Sleep today o' early fallen
In thy green and narrow bed
Dirges from the pines and cypress
Mingle with the tears we′ve shed

Oh, we shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev'ning prayer


Oh, we shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev′ning prayer
While we breathe our ev'ning prayer