Its hard to keep tears out of my eyes This might be our last goodbye Our country calls you to defend a great land So 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 Its just as close as I came to you This old ocean might keep us apart But it won'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 distant, lonely grave All the rest of my life I'll spend in prayer I'll meet you in heaven there'll be 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