France's sun was slowly
Sinking o'er the hilltops far away
The land was in its beauty
Where the dying soldier lay
Tears were streaming down his face
As he slowly raised his head
And these were the dying words he said:
"Oh, carry me back to old Tennessee"
"Let this be my last repose"
"Lay my feet beneath the lilacs"
"Lay my head beneath the rose"

"Take this message to my mother
"For I know she's old and gray"
"At home I know she's
Waiting,looking for her boy some day"
"Oh, dear mother, I pulled through for my country and for you"
"And I'm dying for the red, white, and blue"
"Oh, carry me back to old Tennessee"
"Let this be my last repose"
"Lay my feet beneath the lilacs"
"Lay my head beneath the rose"

"O'er the hills of Tennessee where the wild winds wander free"
"The little girl waiting there for me"
"Tell her that the rose she gave me will be placed upon my grave"
"In memory of her soldier brave"
"Oh, carry me back to old Tennessee"
"Let this be my last repose"
"Lay my feet beneath the lilacs"
"Lay my head beneath the rose"