Please Turn Up Your Speakers!
This Page High In Graphics ~ Please Be Patient As It Loads
 Page Will Automatically Scroll When Complete

 
TAPS
(There are no "official" words to Taps.  Below is the most popular.)

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

The History Of Taps

It all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when a Union Army Captain, Robert Ellicombe, was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of this narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded in the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring back the stricken man for medical attention.  

Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the soldier and began pulling him back toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered is was actually a Confederate soldier, and the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern, suddenly caught his breath, and went numb with shock. In the dim light of the lantern, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son! The young man had been studying music in the South when the war broke out, and without telling his father, he had enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, the father asked permission of his supervisors to give his son a full military funeral, despite the young man's enemy status. The Captain's request was partially granted. He asked the Army if he could have a group of Army band members play a dirge for his son at the funeral. Out of respect for the Captain, they said they could loan him one musician. He chose the bugler. The Captain asked him to play a series of musical notes found in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. The wish was granted. That music was the haunting bugle melody we now know as "Taps."  

Acknowledgments
The Vietnam War Memorial

Back to Boomers Cafe - Winds of War