A    E    A 

[Verse 1]
A                                    D                       A      A                          A
We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair; we shall linger to caress him,
A           B                E               A                           D                A
While we breathe our ev'ning pray'r when a year ago we gathered, joy was in his mild blue eyes,
A             A                                E      A
But a golden chord is severed, And our hopes in ruin  lie.

[Chorus]
A        D                A            A                   E
We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair,
E        A           D                  A        E            A
We shall linger to caress him, while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.

[Instrumental]
A   D     E  A

[Verse 2]
A                                      D              A      A                          A
At our fireside, sad and lonely,often will the bosom swell  at remembrance of the story,
        B            E       E    A                                     D               A
How our noble Willie fell; how he strove to bear our banner through the thickest of the fight,
A                                               E            A
And uphold our country's honor, in the strength of manhood's night.

[Chorus]
A        D                A            A                   E
We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair,
E        A           D                  A        E            A
We shall linger to caress him, while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.

[Verse 3]
A                                        D                  A                          A
True, they tell us wreaths of glory ever more will deck his brow, but this soothes the anguish only,
        B                     E           A                               D               A
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now. sleep today, oh early fallen, in thy green and narrow bed,
A                                                E         A
Dirges from the pine and cypress mingle with the tears we shed.

[Outro]
A        D                A            A                   E
We shall meet but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair,
E        A           D                  A        E            A
We shall linger to caress him, while we breathe our ev'ning pray'r.