Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Van Lear, Kentucky in 1932. According to Songfacts, Loretta Lynn's superstar Country career started in 1960 when she recorded " I'm a Honky Tonk Girl " as her debut single. The song was a minor hit, climbing to #14 on Billboard's C&W Chart. By the late 1960s she had begun picking up various Female Vocalist of the Year trophies and in 1972 the singer became the first woman in history to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year trophy. Lynn dominated the Country charts throughout the rest of the decade and has continued to record hit records through the ensuing years. Her 50th anniversary year began with the award of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement on January 31, 2010.
Lynn released over 70 albums. She is the sister of country singer Crystal Gayle (born in Paintsville, Kentucky) and Peggy Sue, and is a cousin of Patty Loveless. Her father was a coal miner in Van Lear. Her biography was made into the 1980 film, Coal Miner's Daughter.
On My Own Again
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
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When memory recalls them now and then
And with what rapture sweet my weary heart would beat
If I could hear my mother pray again
If I could only hear my mother pray again if I could only hear her tender voice as then
How happy I would be with who means so much to me
If I could hear my mother pray again
[ ac.guitar ]
So trusting still his love I'll seek that home above
For I shall meet my mother some glad day
If I could only hear my mother...
Loretta Lynn's "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again" is a heartfelt and nostalgic tribute to the singer's mother. The song evokes a sense of longing for days gone by and a desire to revisit the simple moments of prayer shared with her mother. Lynn's voice and the gentle strum of the acoustic guitar create a somber and reflective tone in the song.
The lyrics express Lynn's longing to hear her mother's voice again, particularly when she was praying. The way her mother used to implore her to rely on Jesus and to live by the gospel are fond memories. These memories are so significant and dear to Lynn's heart that if she could only hear her mother pray again, her "weary heart would beat" with "rapture." The line "how happy I would be with who means so much to me," is a nod to the idea that our loved ones who have passed on never truly leave us.
The song speaks to the universal experiences of loss, grief, and remembrance while simultaneously celebrating the enduring bond between a mother and her child. Overall, "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again" is a deeply moving testament to the power of faith and love, and of the lasting impact that a mother's prayers can have on her children.
Line by Line Meaning
How sweet and happy seem those days of which I dream
I remember a time in the past that was filled with happiness and sweet memories
When memory recalls them now and then
Even though it happened a long time ago, I still remember those times from time to time
And with what rapture sweet my weary heart would beat
Thinking about those happy memories fills me with joy and energy
If I could hear my mother pray again
I miss my mother's comforting voice and her prayers that gave me hope
If I could only hear my mother pray again if I could only hear her tender voice as then
I long to hear my mother's voice and her words of guidance once more
How happy I would be with who means so much to me
Hearing my mother's voice again would bring so much happiness to me, as she was a very important person in my life
If I could hear my mother pray again
I wish I could listen to my mother's prayers again and feel her presence near me
She used to pray that I on Jesus would rely and always walk the shining gospel way
My mother used to pray that I would trust in Jesus and follow the path of righteousness
So trusting still his love I'll seek that home above
I will continue to have faith in Jesus and seek a place in heaven, as my mother wished for me
For I shall meet my mother some glad day
I believe that one day, I will be reunited with my mother in heaven
If I could only hear my mother...
I can't help but wish to listen to my mother's prayers again, and feel her love and guidance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: THOMAS A. DORSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind