Story Behind The Song
During the Civil War, soldiers would write letters to family the night before battle and tuck them into their pockets in case they died on the battlefield.
Song Description
A young solider writes to his bride in case he dies in battle the next day. He is seated by the fire and thinking about how much he loves her and sends prayers that God will save him until the next day.
Song Length |
4:58 |
Genre |
Folk - Traditional, Folk - Americana |
Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
Mood |
Moving, Poignant |
Subject |
Long, Loneliness |
Similar Artists |
Judy Collins |
Language |
English |
Era |
1800 - 1899 |
| |
Lyrics
Dear Love,
The firelight is low, and the moon on the horizon spills a silver light this night.
I know what waits before me, and the heart that beats within me fears the morning light.
But for now, I just want to tell you in the minutes before sleeping that you are my life.
And if the Lord is willing, He will see me through tomorrow
And I will live again to see another night.
Where I will sit by this fire, warmed by your memory, held by the dreams we shared
And in the glow, I will write another letter and tuck it in my pocket for the mail.
Dear Love,
I remember our first meeting, how we wandered into love along the road of life
the softness of your eyes and the way you held me tightly like the world would end
Could it be that we could last forever?
Or could it be this parting was our last?
I pray the Lord is willing, He'll see me through tomorrow; I close this now for dawn is coming fast.
Reveille...dawn is here
We will rise...pray for me.
Dear Love,
This all could be for naught, this battle here before us could be done by night...or not...
we could face this forever, shatter all our dreams like broken shards of glass
And if that's true, you need to know, forever, that any thought I had today was you.
But if the Lord is willing, He'll see me through tomorrow,
And I'll live again to see another night,
Where I will sit by this fire, warmed by your memory, held by the dreams we shared
And in the glow, I will write another letter and tuck it in my pocket for the mail.
Dear, dear, Love....