I’LL BE WAITING WHEN YOU COME HOME (An original 1940s Wartime Romantic Song)

[Intro — Gentle piano, soft strings, muted trumpet]

(Spoken in a warm, tender crooner’s voice)

“My darling, if the night should find me far away,
Just look up at the stars, my love…
And know I’m thinking of you.”

[Verse 1]

The station clock was striking nine,
The moon was shining pale,
You pressed your trembling hand in mine
Beside the midnight rail.

Your eyes were bright with unshed tears,
Your lips were soft and warm,
And though I had to leave you, dear,
Your love would keep me strong.

You placed your photograph in my coat,
And whispered, “Darling, please,
Come back to me when war is done,
Come sailing home on peaceful seas.”

[Chorus — Strings swell, saxophones answer the vocal]

I’ll be waiting when you come home,
When the guns have fallen still,
When the skies are blue above us
And the world has lost its chill.

I’ll be waiting by the window,
With a candle burning bright,
And I’ll hold you close forever
When you walk back through the night.

Though a thousand miles may lie between,
And the years may seem so long,
I’ll be waiting when you come home,
My darling, all my life long.

[Verse 2 — Gentle swing rhythm, brushed drums]

The letters that you send me, love,
I read them every night,
I kiss the paper where you’ve signed,
Then hold it to the light.

I hear the church bells Sunday morn,
I watch the roses grow,
And every train that passes by
Makes me wonder if you know.

The neighbours say the war will end,
That peace will come once more,
But all I want is you beside me
Walking through our garden door.

[Chorus — Full orchestra, warm crooner delivery]

I’ll be waiting when you come home,
When the guns have fallen still,
When the skies are blue above us
And the world has lost its chill.

I’ll be waiting by the window,
With a candle burning bright,
And I’ll hold you close forever
When you walk back through the night.

Though a thousand miles may lie between,
And the years may seem so long,
I’ll be waiting when you come home,
My darling, all my life long.

[Bridge — Music softens to piano and solo trumpet]

And if the night grows cold, my love,
And fear should fill your heart,
Remember that my arms are waiting,
Though we’re worlds apart.

No bomb can break the love we share,
No ocean wash it away,
For you are in my every prayer
Until that homecoming day.

[Final Verse — Strings rise, vocal full of emotion]

Then one bright morning, through the mist,
I heard the church bells ring,
I ran down to the station
As the people cheered and sang.

And there you stood upon the platform,
Your uniform worn thin,
I ran into your waiting arms
And felt my life begin.

No words could tell the joy I felt,
No tears could say enough,
For there you were, my soldier boy,
My darling and my love.

[Final Chorus — Grand 1940s big-band orchestral climax]

I’ve been waiting for you to come home,
And now the guns have fallen still,
The skies are blue above us,
And the world is ours to fill.

No more lonely nights of dreaming,
No more goodbyes at dawn,
For I’ll be yours forever, dear,
Now peace has finally come.

And when the years have silvered us,
And time has travelled on,
I’ll thank the stars that brought you back
And kept our love so strong.

[Outro — Slow rubato, piano and strings]

So lay your head upon my shoulder,
Let the whole world fade away,
You’re home again, my one true love,
And here is where you’ll stay.

Spoken softly as the trumpet plays the final melody:

“Goodnight, my darling…
No more goodbyes.
You’re home.”

[Final chord — Warm strings, muted trumpet fading into silence]

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[Intro — Gentle piano, soft strings, muted trumpet] (Spoken in a warm, tender crooner’s voice) “My darling, if the night should find me far away, Just look up at the stars, my love… And know I’m thinking of you.” [Verse 1] The station clock was striking nine, The moon was shining pale, You pressed your trembling hand in mine Beside the midnight rail. Your eyes were bright with unshed tears, Your lips were soft and warm, And though I had to leave you, dear, Your love would keep me strong. You placed your photograph in my coat, And whispered, “Darling, please, Come back to me when war is done, Come sailing home on peaceful seas.” [Chorus — Strings swell, saxophones answer the vocal] I’ll be waiting when you come home, When the guns have fallen still, When the skies are blue above us And the world has lost its chill. I’ll be waiting by the window, With a candle burning bright, And I’ll hold you close forever When you walk back through the night. Though a thousand miles may lie between, And the years may seem so long, I’ll be waiting when you come home, My darling, all my life long. [Verse 2 — Gentle swing rhythm, brushed drums] The letters that you send me, love, I read them every night, I kiss the paper where you’ve signed, Then hold it to the light. I hear the church bells Sunday morn, I watch the roses grow, And every train that passes by Makes me wonder if you know. The neighbours say the war will end, That peace will come once more, But all I want is you beside me Walking through our garden door. [Chorus — Full orchestra, warm crooner delivery] I’ll be waiting when you come home, When the guns have fallen still, When the skies are blue above us And the world has lost its chill. I’ll be waiting by the window, With a candle burning bright, And I’ll hold you close forever When you walk back through the night. Though a thousand miles may lie between, And the years may seem so long, I’ll be waiting when you come home, My darling, all my life long. [Bridge — Music softens to piano and solo trumpet] And if the night grows cold, my love, And fear should fill your heart, Remember that my arms are waiting, Though we’re worlds apart. No bomb can break the love we share, No ocean wash it away, For you are in my every prayer Until that homecoming day. [Final Verse — Strings rise, vocal full of emotion] Then one bright morning, through the mist, I heard the church bells ring, I ran down to the station As the people cheered and sang. And there you stood upon the platform, Your uniform worn thin, I ran into your waiting arms And felt my life begin. No words could tell the joy I felt, No tears could say enough, For there you were, my soldier boy, My darling and my love. [Final Chorus — Grand 1940s big-band orchestral climax] I’ve been waiting for you to come home, And now the guns have fallen still, The skies are blue above us, And the world is ours to fill. No more lonely nights of dreaming, No more goodbyes at dawn, For I’ll be yours forever, dear, Now peace has finally come. And when the years have silvered us, And time has travelled on, I’ll thank the stars that brought you back And kept our love so strong. [Outro — Slow rubato, piano and strings] So lay your head upon my shoulder, Let the whole world fade away, You’re home again, my one true love, And here is where you’ll stay. Spoken softly as the trumpet plays the final melody: “Goodnight, my darling… No more goodbyes. You’re home.” [Final chord — Warm strings, muted trumpet fading into silence]

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