The Vacant Chair

We shall meet but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev’ning prayer
When a year ago we gathered
Joy was in his mild blue eye
But a golden cord is severed
And our hope in ruin lie

We shall meet but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev’ning prayer

At the fireside, sad and lonely
Often will the bosom swell
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell
How he strove to bear the banner
Thro’ the thickest of the fight
And uphold our country’s honor
In the strength of manhood’s might

We shall meet but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev’ning prayer

[Guitar solo]

We shall meet but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our ev’ning prayer
While we breathe our blessed prayer