Mama Sang A Song
Anderson Bill Lyrics

I get to thinking a lot of times about back when I was a lad
I often reminisce about my childhood and where I grew up.

Of the old homeplace where I grew up and of the days both good and bad
I remember the good and bad times growing up in my hometown.

My overalls were hand-me-downs, my shoes were full of holes
I didn't have a lot growing up and most of my clothes were secondhand.

I used to walk four miles to school every day through the rain, the sleet and the cold
Despite the weather conditions, I walked four miles to and from school every day.

I've seen the nights when my daddy would cry
I witnessed many nights when my father would cry.

For the things that his family would need
He cried because he couldn't provide the basic necessities for our family.

But all daddy ever got was a badland farm and seven hungry mouths to feed
Despite his efforts, my father wasn't able to provide much for our family.

And yet and yet our homefire never flickered once
Despite the hardships, the love in our home never diminished.

'Cause when all these things went wrong
Even when things were tough and challenging.

Mama took the hymn book down and mama sang a song
My mother found solace in singing hymns from our hymn book.

(What a friend we have in Jesus)
A hymn that brought her particular comfort was 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus'.

Oh, I've been rocked to sleep many a night to the tune of 'What a Friend'
I have many fond memories of falling asleep to my mother's singing of 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus'.

And then come morning and 'Rock of Ages' would wake me gently once again
The next morning, I would wake up to the sound of my mother's voice singing 'Rock of Ages'.

And then I remember how daddy used to reach up and he'd take the Bible down
My father would often grab the Bible off the shelf and read passages aloud to us.

And he'd read it loud and long
He'd read from the Bible for a long time, often paying special attention to the verses that spoke to him.

And I always felt that maybe our house was blessed
I believed that our home was blessed by God.

When daddy would say, 'Mama, sing a song'
My father's request for my mother to sing a hymn brought us all comfort and peace.

Sister left home first I guess and then Bob and then Tommy and then Dan
My siblings all left home before I did.

By then dad's hair was turning white and I sort of had to be mama's little man
As my father grew older, I took on more responsibilities at home.

But you know, it seemed that as my daddy's back grew weak, my mother's faith just grew strong
As my father's health declined, my mother's faith in God and strength grew stronger.

And those were the greatest days of all when mama sang a song
The happiest and most peaceful times we had were when my mother sang hymns.

(Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee)
One of the hymns my mother sang was 'Rock of Ages'.

I guess the old house is still standing
I believe that our old home still exists today.

I don't get to go back much anymore
I don't often get the chance to visit my childhood home.

No voice is left to fill those halls
Without my mother's voice, the house feels empty and quiet.

And no steps to grace the floor
Without my siblings and parents, the house is no longer filled with the sound of footsteps.

For you see, you see my mother sings up in heaven now, up around God's golden throne
My mother has passed away and I believe she is now singing hymns with the angels in heaven.

But I'll always believe that this whole world is a better place
Despite the sadness of her passing, I know that this world is better because of the impact she had on my life.

Because one time my mama sang a song (precious memories flood my soul)
My mother's voice and the hymns she sang continue to fill me with beautiful memories and feelings of warmth.