I was working in Houston Station Like my dad and his before him Trying to pass the time before the bell When a poor hand and a bad joke Sent me down to the Phoenix Park To join the Royal Dublin Fusiliers My mother went down to plead my case, but the ink had already dried And God love her, I still remember every tear she cried Now I'm writing from a barracks on the north side of the Lee And I'll soon be four Cork Harbour and away Do the boys still run down to see me When they hear the hooter blow? Does my sister still resent me Now that I must wear the rose? Well, I hope that this letter will find you in good health With all my love, your fond son John Me, dad pulled into the station So, I went to meet him there Told him to thank you for the cigarettes and the cake I was down heartened when he pulled out And again, I said goodbye And I headed back for the old yard road Do the boys still run down to see me When they hear the hooter blow? Does my sister still resent me Now that I must wear the rose? I'm headed for Northern France To a river they call, The Somme With all my love, your fond son John Yes, John, the boys still run down to see you When they hear the hooter blow And you sister did forgive you For she knows you did not know Son, mind yourself and hurry home And I'll have your dinner on With all my love, my fond son John John, he never came home, he died at 21 They couldn't find his body in the morgue But there's a headstone up in Thiebval Inscribed as Private Gagan Son of Hugh and Ellen of Inchicore