Tears by the firelight, he won't be home tonight  The Royal order reached him now to fight for the land  Eyes at the window-pane, staring through pouring rain  All the room is cold and grey, the fire burns bright  Every night there is no one beside  She's counting the hours, the memories burn  Day after day all her thoughts slip away  She waits for the one to return  Almost a year has gone, the battles are raging on  She has got no sign of life, no news at all  She wants to know his stand far in the foreign land  For King and Country he has left, the King's sleeping tight  Every night there is no one beside . . .  Tears by the firelight, he won't be home tonight  Sparks of hope begin to glow, the end of the war  Church-bells proclaim the peace, they welcome the returnees  "The victory is ours!" but she thinks, "What's mine?"  Every night there is no one beside . . .  Tears by the light, the fire burns down  Words black as grave's ground, seals red as blood  By the light, life's found an end  The parchment is still in her hand.