I remember when I was a lad
Times were hard and things were bad
But there's a silver lining behind every cloud
Just poor people that's all we were
Trying to make a living out of blackland dirt
But we'd get together in a family circle singin' loud

   Daddy sang bass
   Mama sang tenor
   Me and little brother would join right in there
   Singin' seems to help a troubled soul

One of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne
No the circle won't be broken won't be broken
Bye and bye lord bye and bye

   Daddy sang bass
   Mama sang tenor
   Me and little brother would join right in there
   In the sky lord in the sky

I remember after work
Mama would call in all of us
You could hear us singin' for a country mile
Now little brother has done gone on
I'll rejoin him in a song
We'll be together again up yonder in a little while