As the lights were going out all across our troubled land

The callup took the finest of our young men out of reach

As our stalwart British tommies laboured through the desert sand

Along came Johnny the Canuck to step into the breach.

They courted us with dances, with movies, and with flowers

Their uniforms and accents and the charming things they’d say

So in weeks or even days or sometimes even only hours

We found ourselves engaged, or even in a family way.

Our fathers say he’s probably got another wife back home

Our brothers talk of Indians and houses made of ice

Our mothers say that we’ll be left to raise our babes alone

Our sisters wish he’d bring along another bloke that’s nice.

So we saved up all our coupons for a white dress and a cake

The army gave its blessing and we set a wedding date

For honeymoons our lads were given one or two weeks break

They they went back to their duty, and we began to wait.

    It might be any day, and it might not be for years

    That word will come, to London we must go

    We’ll kiss our friends and family, and we’ll try to hide our tears

    As we bid farewell to all we love and know

    Though the good ships that will carry us across the ocean wide

    May bring us to our lovers true and kind

    The fine new homes we’re making over on the other side

    Will never be the ones we’ve left behind.

We formed a Waiting Wives’ Club and we meet down at the Y

To learn the tricks and customs of our new Canadian life

To shop by mail and bake by fire are things we’ll have to try

An outhouse and a water pump, and the work of a farmer’s wife.

It’s a hard life in the colonies, is what our parents say

But when we’re in our husbands’ arms, we’re sure ‘twill be alright

There’ll be banana splits, and eggs, and white bread every day

No bombing raids or shelters, and the lights stay on all night.

And it’s time our little ones saw their daddies once again

Their foreign grannies write to say they’re dying to meet them too

It’s hard being always ready to go, and always wondering when

And wondering what our lives will hold in a country far and new.

    repeat chorus