A Climber’s Farewell

A Variation by Bill Todd on a Well Known Barrack Room Ballad
With sincere acknowledgements to the ‘unknown soldier’ who composed the original.

A man, while walking home from work,
Saw something gravely untoward.
His house stood there completely dark;
And fear transfixed him like a sword.

He went up to his daughter’s room
And found her hanging from a beam.
Taking his knife he cut her down
And on her breast these words were seen.

My love was for a climbing chap
Who sailed away to mountains wild.
He swore he’d only gone to make a map,
But perished, leaving me with child.

So all you climbers list to me.
A maiden’s love is hard to find.
And if you find one good and true
Remember what she means to you.

And when you roam on mountain high
And see a move that might go free,
Look well before you have a try,
The view may be the last you’ll see.