Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  



The Boy Salutes

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1963 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1991. On the occasion of a famous scene at the funeral of John Kennedy in late 1963.


The little boy salutes the casket
On the caisson passing thru,
He salutes his country's flag
As his daddy taught him to.
There's so much anger in the air,
So many bullets fly,
It's time for love to take a hand
And love is passing by,
Daddy, goodbye.

The little boy stands on the curbstone
Where the black horse goes his way,
There is no one in the saddle
Where a man rode yesterday.
There's so much sorrow in the air,
So many tears to dry,
It's time for love to take a hand
And love is passing by,
Daddy, goodbye.

The little boy stands on the sidewalk
Where the kings and princes go,
And they walk like men in mourning,
And their step is sad and slow.
There's so much grieving in the world,
The children asking why,
It's time for love to take a hand
And love is passing by,
Daddy, goodbye.


Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- The Muse of Parker Street

Other place(s) where the music to this song appears:
---- Broadside No. 37 (1 January 1964)
---- Broadside: Songs of Our Times..., Vol. 1 (New York: Oak Publications, 1964), p. 52

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- [none]


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