Warren Haynes (born 6 April 1960), guitarist and musician. He is a guitaris… Read Full Bio ↴Warren Haynes (born 6 April 1960), guitarist and musician. He is a guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band and is the primary singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Gov't Mule. He also released a solo album in 1992, Tales Of Ordinary Madness

Haynes also spent the summer of 2004 playing with The Dead, a group featuring the remaining members of The Grateful Dead. He was also a member of the longest running lineup of Phil Lesh's "Phil Lesh and Friend's" band, comprised of himself, Lesh, Jimmy Herring, John Molo, and Rob Baracco

In 2004, he was named to the Rolling Stone magazine list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time at #23. He was joined on the list by fellow Allman Brothers Band guitarists Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, and Derek Trucks.

Warren is well known for the annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam which draws many well known musicians, who play until the early morning hours. The Jam is a benefit for Habitat for Humanity, and is known as one of the best shows in the country.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Warren Haynes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was standing by my window
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

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" describe the funeral of the singer's mother. As he stands by his window, the funeral procession passes and he mourns the loss of his mother. He asks the undertaker to drive slow, wanting to spend as much time as possible with her before her final farewell. The song then shifts to the funeral itself, with the singer struggling to hold back tears as his mother is buried.

The song ends with the family singing hymns and remembering the lessons taught by their mother. The lyrics suggest that despite the sadness of death, there is a better home waiting in the sky and the hope that the family will one day be reunited in the afterlife.

Line by Line Meaning

I was standing by my window
The singer was in his own space looking out the window

On one cold and cloudy day
It was a chilly and gloomy day

When I saw that hearse come rolling
The funeral car was approaching his view

For to carry my mother away
It was meant to take his mother's body to the funeral home or grave

Will the circle be unbroken
The artist is pondering if the connection between living and deceased will remain intact

By and by, Lord, by and by
This phrase is used to suggest a time to come, when things will be different

There's a better home a-waiting
There is a superior place waiting for him and his mother

In the sky, Lord, in the sky
The better home is beyond the clouds in the sky, in spiritual realms

I said to that undertaker
The artist made a request to the funeral director

Undertaker please drive slow
The request was to slow down the funeral car

For this lady you are carrying
The person in the coffin was an important woman to the singer

Lord, I hate to see her go
The artist was feeling a strong sense of sorrow

Oh, I followed close behind her
The singer stayed close to the funeral car

Tried to hold up and be brave
The singer attempted to compose himself and hide his feelings

But I could not hide my sorrow
He failed to hide his sadness and grief over the loss

When they laid her in the grave
The moment the coffin was lowered into the earth

I went back home, my home was lonesome
The artist went back to an empty and lonely home

Missed my mother, she was gone
The singer felt the absence of his mother

All of my brothers, sisters crying
The loss was felt by the entire family

What a home so sad and lone
The home was filled with sadness and emptiness

We sang the songs of childhood
The family sang songs of their past

Hymns of faith that made us strong
The hymns they sang inspired them and gave them strength

Ones that mother Maybelle taught us
The songs were passed down by their mother

Hear the angels sing along
Their singing was in harmony with the spiritual world

Will the circle be unbroken
The singer repeats the earlier question about the connection between the living and the dead

By and by, Lord, by and by
Reemphasizing that a change is coming, and things will be different

There's a better home a-waiting
A brighter, permanent home is waiting for them

In the sky, Lord, in the sky
This better home is beyond this physical world

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alvin Pleasant Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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