MAMA SANG A SONG
(Written by Bill Anderson)
Walter Brennan - Vocals by the Johnny Mann Singers


(GOD PUT A SONG IN THE HEART OF AN ANGEL, AND SOFTLY SHE SANG IT TO 
ME.) 

I GET TO THINKING LOTS OF TIMES ABOUT BACK WHEN I WAS A LAD,
OF THE OLD HOME-PLACE WHERE I GROWED UP;
OF THE DAYS BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
MY OVERALLS WAS HAND-ME-DOWNS,
MY SHOES WAS FULL OF HOLES,
AND I USED TO WALK FOUR MILES TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY,
THOUGH THE RAIN AND THE SLEET AND THE COLD.

I"VE SEEN THE NIGHTS WHEN MY DADDY WOULD CRY
FOR THE THINGS THAT HIS FAMILY WOULD NEED,
BUT ALL HE EVER GOT WAS A BAD-LAND FARM
AND SEVEN HUNGRY MOUTHS TO FEED, 
AND YET...AND YET, OUR HOME-FIRE NEVER FLICKERED ONCE,
'CAUSE WHEN ALL THESE THINGS WENT WRONG,
MAMA TOOK THE HYMN-BOOK DOWN, AND MAMA SANG A SONG.

(WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS...)

I BEEN ROCKED TO SLEEP MANY A NIGHT
TO THE TUNE OF "WHAT A FRIEND"; COME MORNING,
"ROCK OF AGES WOULD WAKEN ME GENTLY ONCE AGAIN.
THEN DAD, HE'D REACH UP AND TAKE THE BIBLE DOWN
AND READ IT, READ IT LOUD AND LONG.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MAYBE OUR HOME WAS BLEST
WHEN DADDY WOULD SAY, "MAMA, SING A SONG."

SISTER LEFT HOME FIRST, I GUESS,
THEN BOB AND THEN TOMMY AND THEN DAN.
THEN DAD'S HAIR WAS TURNIN' WHITE --
`N I HAD TO BE MAMA'S LITTLE MAN.
BUT IT SEEMED THAT AS DADDY'S BACK GROWED WEAK,
MOTHER'S FAITH JUST GROWED STRONG.
AND THEM WERE THE GREATEST DAYS OF ALL, WHEN MAMA SANG A SONG.

(ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR 
ME. 
LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE.)
OOH OOH OOH (Through Recitation)

I GUESS THE HOUSE IS STILL STANDING; I DON'T GET BACK MUCH NO MORE.
NO VOICE IS LEFT TO FILL THEM HALLS,
`N NO STEPS TO GRACE THE FLOOR.
YOU SEE, MY MAMA SINGS IN HEAVEN NOW,
AROUND GOD'S GOLDEN THRONE.
BUT I'LL ALWAYS BELIEVE THIS WORLD
IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE...ONE TIME...MY MAMA...SANG... A SONG.

(PRECIOUS MEMORIES FILL MY SOUL...)



(Contributed by Bette Carl - May 2002)