Brother of mine
I've been keeping my thoughts with you
Hope these words and good luck help to put the worst of it behind
No atheists in foxholes or prayers our mothers taught us
I've got the best of her in mind

"Keep me close, keep me near"
The words we long to hear
Keep my name on your tongue
This rabbit foot for good luck
Keep me on your mind
If the road ahead is too long
(Keep me close)
If your love and will is gone
(Keep me near)
Know the night will have its dawn
(Keep me close)
Know the night will have its dawn
And if your candle stops burning
(Keep me close)
Or your swan starts to sing
(Keep me near)
Or stop and think of me
Or stop and think of me
The ones we love

Too many kids in graves up and down these coasts
"Hold true, stay swift"
Mothers wait in vain for their boys to come home
Hull down, dead set
Two stars hang in the window
One blue, the other soon to be gold
"Keep me, keep me close"

Two stars
Two stars
Two stars
Two stars
Wait in vain
Wait in vain
Two stars
Wait in vain
Two stars
Two stars
Two stars
Two stars
Wait in vain
Wait in vain
Two stars
Wait in vain
Two stars

"Keep me close, keep me near"
The words we long to hear
Keep my name on your tongue, this rabbit foot for good luck
Keep me on your mind
If the road ahead is too long
(Keep me close)
If your love and will is gone
(Keep me near)
Know that the night will have its dawn
(Keep me close)
Know the night will have its dawn
And if your candle stops burning
(Keep me close)
Or your swan starts to sing
(Keep me near)
"Keep me close, keep me near"
The words we long to hear