There once was a a little wooden soldier,
Who fell down from his pedestal
And the flames came up and they devoured him
And the little wooden soldier was in hell;
He was only a little wooden soldier,
Burning in the fire- place;
He was only a little wooden soldier,
But there was no sorrow on his face.
There once was a little cardboard soldier
And he was left out in the storm,
And then the sun came out and bleached him
And the little cardboard soldier soon was gone;
He was only a little cardboard soldier,
Fading in the sun and rain;
He was only a little cardboard soldier,
But his body felt no pain.
There once was little tin soldier
And he fell from his box into the dust
And soon the world forgot about him
And the little tin soldier turned to rust;
He was only a little tin soldier,
Lying deserted on the path;
He was only a little tin soldier
But there was no fear in his heart.
There once was a flesh and bone soldier,
And he was no more than a boy
And the enemy that he was fighting
Was no plaything or no toy;
He was only a flesh and bone soldier
Fighting for all that he holds dear,
He was only a flesh and bone soldier,
But he feels the sorrow, pain and fear.