Oh! Willie, is it you, dear, safe, safe at home?
They did not tell me true, dear, they said you would not come;
I heard you at the gate, and it made my heart rejoice
For I knew that welcome footstep and that dear familiar voice
Making music in my ear in the lonely midnight gloom
Oh, Willie, we have missed you–welcome, welcome home

We’ve longed to see you nightly, but this night of all
The fire was blazing brightly, and lights were in the hall
The little ones were up till ’twas ten o’clock and past
Then their eyes began to twinkle, and they’re gone to sleep at last;
But they listened for your voice till they thought you’d never come
Oh, Willie, we have missed you–welcome, welcome home

The days were sad without you, the nights long and drear
The dreams have been about you, oh, welcome, Willie, dear
Last night I wept and watched, by the moonlight’s cheerless ray
Till I thought I heard your footstep, when I wiped my tears away;
But my heart grew sad again, when I found you had not come;
Oh, Willie, we have missed you–welcome, welcome home