Watauga County Soldier in France Talks With His Peers Who Didn't Serve, 1919

From the Feb. 6, 1919 issue of The Watauga Democrat, Boone

The Fellows Who Couldn’t Go

(By a Watauga boy in France)

Do you remember back in ’17 when you spent some gloomy days?

When you heard that we’s a-goin’ to fall in them European ways.

Was you filled with sad misgivin’s, thinking of meeting with the foe;

And a-envying o’ the fellers who wouldn’t have to go?

You wasn’t born a rich man’s son, with a factory to claim attention,

Where they manufacture autos, and the “essential plea” exemption.

You was just a’ ordinary chap, with a row in life to hoe;

Not like the essential fellers, who wouldn’t have to go.

Then there was some just turned thirty one, an’ a week or two an’ you’d see

All the time you’s a-wondering, if this was really so;

Yes, “they had their reason,” and it wasn’t fear; they’s too old to go.

An’ you recollect the fellow with the brand new blushing bride?

She certainly couldn’t exist no time without him by her side.

Of course her pa and ma were rich, but the exemption board wouldn’t know;

So how could this young man expect to break home ties and go?

Say, do you mind the worthy son, with the aged mother, oh!, so frail?

Who’d stood by the but from morn till night to keep him out of jail.

He got a job and stayed in nights; workin’est boy ‘round, you know!

To a sheet of fools-cap, closely writ, to say why he couldn’t go.

Well, a year’s gone by, and nearly two, and things don’t look so blue.

You’ve gone across and fit your fight; showed the world what you could do,

Finished the job on schedule time, made ‘em reap what they started to sow;

And you didn’t need the other boys, the ones who didn’t go.

Now you’re coming home, no more to roam, so free from all worry and care.

We’ll be here to meet you, and right proud to greet you, and tell you that you’ve done your share;

You’ll never regret that you took up the bet, by answerin’ the challenging foe;

An’ didn’t heed doubt and try to slip out, with the fellers who couldn’t go.

And when you arrive, ‘twill be hard to survive the wonderful things here for you,

All the rumors you’ve heard will take flight like a bird, your sweetheart has been true blue.

And if on the street you should happen to meet a fellow with head hanging low;

Don’t commit any sin by rubbing it in; he’s sorry that he didn’t go.