[00:00.33](God put a song in the heart of an angel and softly she sang it to me)[00:22.05]I get to thinking lots of times about back when I was a lad[00:26.97]Of the old homeplace where I grew up of the days both good and bad[00:32.94]My overalls were hand-me-downs my shoes were full of holes[00:39.03]I used to walk four miles to school every day through the rain the sleet and the cold[00:46.20]I've seen the nights when my daddy would cry[00:49.11]For the things that his family would need[00:52.50]But all he ever got was a badland farm and seven hungry mouths to feed[01:00.42]And yet and yet our homefire never flickered once[01:05.91]Cause when all these things went wrong[01:09.27]Mama took the hymn book down and mama sang a song[01:16.35](What a friend we have in Jesus)[01:24.54]I've been rocked to sleep many a night to the tune of What a Friend[01:28.89]And come morning Rock of Ages would wake me gently once again[01:33.69]And when daddy would reach up and he'd take the Bible down[01:36.60]And he'd read it read it loud and long[01:40.38]And I always felt that maybe our house was blessed[01:43.62]When daddy would say mama sing a song[01:48.18]Sister left home first I guess and then Bob and then Tommy and then Dan[01:55.44]By then dad's hair was turning white and I had to be mama's little man[02:01.59]But it seemed that as daddy's back grew weak my mother's faith just grew strong[02:08.64]And those were the greatest days of all when mama sang a song[02:16.92](Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself in Thee)[02:36.96]I guess the house is still standing I don't get to go back much anymore[02:42.21]No voice is left to fill those halls and no steps to grace the floor[02:49.11]For you see my mother sings in heaven now around God's golden throne[02:56.58]But I'll always believe that this world is a better place[03:01.59]Because one time my mama sang a song (precious mem'ries flod my soul)