Songs For My Own Enjoyment: Vacant Chair, The

G  D7 G 

G                                     

We shall meet but we shall miss him,  

           C             G       

there will be one vacant chair;  

G                               

we shall linger to caress him,  

G        A7                  D7      

While we breathe our ev'ning pray'r  

       G                      

When a year ago we gathered,  

        C                G      

joy was in his mild blue eyes,  

G                               

But a golden chord is severed,  

                 D7    G     

And our hopes in ruin  lie.  

G        C                 G          

We shall meet but we shall miss him,  

G                        D7      

there will be one vacant chair,  

D7       G            C          

We shall linger to ca-ress him,  

         G           D7      G        

while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.  

G   C     D7  G 

G                                 

At our fireside, sad and lonely,  

      C              G      

often will the bosom swell  

G                             

at remembrance of the story,  

        A7           D7     

How our noble Willie fell;  

    D7 G                          

How he strove to bear our banner  

            C               G       

through the thickest of the fight,  

G                                

And uphold our country's honor,  

                   D7        G       

in the strength of manhood's night.  

G        C                 G          

We shall meet but we shall miss him,  

                         D7      

there will be one vacant chair,  

D7       G            C          

We shall linger to ca-ress him,  

         G           D7      G        

while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.  

G                                    

True, they tell us wreaths of glory  

     C                  G      

ever more will deck his brow,  

                     G              

but this soothes the anguish only,  

         A7                    D7    

Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now.  

         G                      

Sleep to-day, oh early fallen,  

       C                G     

in thy green and narrow bed,  

G                                 

Dirges from the pine and cypress  

                D7       G      

mingle with the tears we shed.  

G        C                 G          

We shall meet but we shall miss him,  

G                        D7      

there will be one vacant chair,  

D7       G            C          

We shall linger to ca-ress him,  

         G       D7          G        

while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.