Little boy called Taps, A

US (Original)Version FROM SHEET MUSIC

In a little town, as the sun went down, stood a mother and her son.
And her tears fell fast, as the bugle blast, from afar called her only one.
“Mother dear” he cries, “dry your dear old eyes, I’ll come marching home to you,
And some day perhaps, you’ll be proud of Taps, in his bright uniform of blue.”

When she hears the bugle calling as the boys go marching by,
Then her tears are gently falling from her heart there comes a sigh
By the fireside she is dreaming
They will meet someday perhaps
While amid the campfires gleaming lies a little boy called Taps.


‘Mid the battle’s strife, fighting life for life, one by one the soldiers fall.
From the ranks of death with his parting breath,
Taps is sounding his final call.
There he lies that night, by the campfires light, with his bugle on his breast
And they raise their caps, as their own dear
Tap is laid to his final rest.

A sentimental song from the early 20th century that was a big hit throughout the English-speaking world. It was later recorded by the Canadian traditional singer LaRena Clark.

The song was based on an incident in the Spanish American war of 1898, the original version had lyrics by Madden and music composed by Morse. FW Leigh wrote an additional verse and made slight alterations, transferring the scene of the action to the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The British version was most associated with the singing of Madge Lessing, whose brief biography appears below.

The actress, dancer and singer Madge Lessing (1873 to 1932) was born in London to Irish parents but migrated to the US in around 1890 where she built a highly successful career as a vaudeville performer. She returned to the UK in 1900, where she was a highly successful and a principal boy in the pantomime. She was an extremely popular performer in the variety theatre, music halls and revues – both in Britain and mainland Europe. In 1920 she returned to the USA where she married and retired from the professional stage

A recording by Byron G Harlan of the US version:

Sources:

• VWML entry
• Kilgarrif Sing Us
• Lyrics and US Sheet Music: Levy Collection
• UK Sheet Music: personal copy

Last Updated on May 6, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: May 6, 2023