Day is done, gone the sun,

From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;

All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.


Fading light, dims the sight,

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.

From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.


Thanks and praise, for our days,

'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;

As we go, this we know, God is nigh.



Taps was first adapted for military use in 1862
after the Seven Days Battles of the Civil War.
The troops of Gen. George McClellan  suffered 16,000
casualties in the heavy fighting. Gen. Robert E. Lee lost 20,000.
Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield decided that the men under
his command needed something more soothing
than the usual notes that signaled "extinguish lights."
He penciled 24 notes which he instructed his brigade
bugler to play as the troops bedded down for the night.

buglesacrossamerica.org

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