Come all ye young maidens And hear my sad tale ‘Bout a brave young trooper, who's chute did failed As he went up into the cloudy sky He sang a sad song on his way to die He sang, "My love, is far-far from me. Far beyond the South China Sea," "I left her there, with a tear in her eye, for I must go where brave men die." Whoa-whoa-oh, yes I must go where brave men die As he went out of the plane into the stormy night I saw the young trooper in a burst of fiery light As he fell through the night, his chute all in flame A smile on his lips, he cried out his girl's name We found the young trooper No longer will he be sore From the great iron bird, he'll jump no more His face was pale, as pure as milk And we wrapped him ‘round in parachute silk Whoa-whoa-oh, yes we wrapped him ‘round in parachute silk So all ye young maidens, come listen to me, never love a paratrooper You'll never be free For some dark night when he falls through the sky His chute will not open; your love will die Whoa-whoa-oh, his chute will not open; your love will die