Let Me Kiss Him for His Mother.
Let me kiss him for his mother,
Let me kiss his youthful brow;
I will love him for his mother,
And seek her blessing now.
Kind friends have soothed his pillow,
Have watch’d his every care;
Beneath the weeping willow,
Oh, lay him gently there.
CHORUS.
Sleep, dearest, sleep;
I love you as a brother;
Kind friends around you weep,
I’ve kiss’d you for your mother,
Let me kiss him for his mother,
What though left a stranger here?
She has loved him as none other,
I feel her blessing near.
Though cold that form lies sleeping,
Sweet angels watch around;
Dear friends are near thee weeping;
Oh, lay him gently down.
Sleep, dearest, sleep, &c.
Let me kiss him for his mother,
Or perchance a sister dear;
If a father or a brother,
I know their blessing’s here.
Then kiss him for his mother:
’Twill soothe her after-years;
Farewell, dear stranger brother,
Our requiem, our tears.
Sleep, dearest, sleep, &c.