He was a soldier boy, brave as any lad could be. Temporary Mary was a pretty lad, waiting for her Tommy across the sea. In her heart, in her heart, a beating, feeling tale of a love that is all true blue.
And in her ear a song Tommy sang will linger long and thrill her through and through. Tip Top Temporary Mary, I love you true. Tip Top Temporary Mary, my love's true as your eyes of blue.
I dream of your endearing young charms every night through. Although I'm far away from Temporary Mary, my heart's with you. Tip Top Temporary Mary, I love you true.
Tip Top Temporary Mary, my love's true as your eyes of blue. I dream of your endearing young charms every night through. Though I'm far away from Temporary Mary, my heart's with you.
Temporary Tommy, so the story goes, told a comrade one dark night. Everything is fading, it's myself that knows, never ever more will Tommy die. In my heart, in my heart, a throbbing theme to tell of my Mary so far away.
When you go marching home, sing to Mary cross the foam, this song I sang one day. Tip Top Temporary Mary, I love you true. Tip Top Temporary Mary, my love's true as your eyes of blue.
I dream of your endearing young charms every night through. Though I'm far away from Temporary Mary, my heart's with you. Tip Top Temporary Mary, I love you true.
Tip Top Temporary Mary, my love's true as your eyes of blue. I dream of your endearing young charms every night through. Though I'm far away from Temporary Mary, my heart's with you.
Transcribed by AI from the recording above. These are noisy hundred-year-old cylinders, so expect misheard words and the occasional invented line — trust your ears over the text.
Audio public domain, courtesy of the UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive. Transcript CC BY 4.0. Free to reuse, including commercially, with credit.