Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill).
Also performed as: The Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy
Family Circle
Mighty Clouds Of Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
I said to that undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this lady you are carrying
Lord, I hate to see here go
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Oh, I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
I went back home, my home was lonesome
Missed my mother, she was gone
All of my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
We sang the songs of childhood
Hymns of faith that made us strong
Ones that mother Maybelle taught us
Hear the angels sing along
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
The Mighty Clouds of Joy's song "Family Circle" is a gospel song about the loss of a mother and the hope of being reunited with her in the afterlife. The lyrics describe the singer's experience of watching his mother's hearse roll away from his window on a cold and cloudy day. The chorus asks the question if "the circle will be unbroken," a reference to the eternal connection between family members, and the hope of being reunited in a better home in the sky. The singer asks the undertaker to drive slowly as they carry his mother away, unable to bear the thought of her leaving. He follows the procession to the grave, trying to hold up and be brave, but unable to hide his sorrow.
The second verse of the song describes the aftermath of the loss, as the singer returns home to a sad and lonely house, missing his mother. He and his siblings sing songs from their childhood, hymns that their mother Maybelle taught them, trying to find comfort in their faith and the hope of being reunited with their mother in the afterlife. The song's repetition of the chorus emphasizes the theme of hope and the idea that death is not an end, but a beginning of a new life in heaven.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of grief and hope in the face of loss, and a tribute to the enduring love and connection of family.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing by my window
The singer was in their home, physically present but emotionally far away.
On one cold and cloudy day
The weather reflected the mood of the singer, who was experiencing sadness and grief.
When I saw that hearse come rolling
The singer witnessed the arrival of the funeral procession for their mother.
For to carry my mother away
The hearse was there to transport the artist's mother's body.
Will the circle be unbroken
The artist asks a rhetorical question about the continuity of their family and their shared beliefs.
By and by, Lord, by and by
The answer to the rhetorical question may take time to become clear.
There's a better home a-waiting
The singer believes in an afterlife in a happier place for their mother.
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
The afterlife is envisioned as a celestial, holy realm.
I said to that undertaker
The artist addressed the person in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Undertaker please drive slow
The artist wanted to delay the ending of their mother's physical presence in their life.
For this lady you are carrying
The singer addressed the undertaker's object of procession, their mother.
Lord, I hate to see her go
The artist expressed their deep sadness about parting ways with their mother forever.
Oh, I followed close behind her
The singer walked alongside their mother's casket during the procession.
Tried to hold up and be brave
The singer attempted to conceal their sorrow and show strength in front of others.
But I could not hide my sorrow
The singer's emotional pain was too intense to subdue or disguise.
When they laid her in the grave
The artist witnessed the burial of their mother's body.
I went back home, my home was lonesome
The artist's home now seemed empty and hollow without the joy and presence of their mother.
Missed my mother, she was gone
The singer felt the impact of their mother's absence acutely.
All of my brothers, sisters crying
The singer's siblings were also grieving the loss of their mother in a very visible way.
What a home so sad and lone
The artist's living situation was steeped in mourning and isolation.
We sang the songs of childhood
The artist and their siblings found comfort and solace in sharing music related to their shared memories and upbringing.
Hymns of faith that made us strong
The songs were imbued with religious meaning, serving to strengthen and unite the family's beliefs and traditions.
Ones that mother Maybelle taught us
The mother of the singer and their siblings had passed down these musical and spiritual traditions.
Hear the angels sing along
The music reminded the family of their mother's lasting impact and presence in their lives, even after death.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind