Daddy is a Trooper - John Edmond

[Lyrics]
Way back in 1869, my Great-Grandad was born
And he took his infant steps, upon a British lawn
The gypsy woman always said, he'd be a roving lad
And she was right, for Africa called to my Great-Grandad

Now Grandpa saw the light of day, in 1893
And he was raised on ol' blue ground, of dusty Kimberley
But Great-Grandad was fighting in the Matabele War
And here's the song my Great-Grandmother sang to my Grandpa

Daddy is a Trooper, he's many miles away
Go to sleep and don't you weep, while mother kneels to pray
Daddy is a Trooper, Oh Lord be with him now
Shine your light on him tonight and keep him safe somehow

And then in 1917, my father breathed his burst
But Grandpa was at war in France, with fighting at it's worst
And in the mud and gas and blood, of World War number One
He seemed to hear, my Grandma singing, to her little son

Well I was born in '43, and father never knew
A loyal soldier of the King, in World War number Two
The living days were hard for us, and waiting was so long
But mother always used to smile, and sing this little song

Daddy is a Trooper, he's many miles away
Go to sleep and don't you weep, while mother kneels to pray
Daddy is a Trooper, Oh Lord be with him now
Shine your light on him tonight and keep him safe somehow

Somewhere in North Rhodesia, in 1973
I had the news, a little baby son was born to me
His mother sang a lullaby, I'm sure I've heard before
For it's been flowing in our veins, a hundred years or more

Daddy is a Trooper, he's many miles away
Go to sleep and don't you weep, while mother kneels to pray
Daddy is a Trooper, Oh Lord be with him now
Shine...

[Lyrics transcribed by The Ghost of Ian Smith in July of 2019]