God put a song in the heart of an angel
And softly she sang it to me
I get to thinking lots of times about
Back when I was a lad

Of the old home place where I grew up
Of the days both good and bad
My overalls were hand-me-downs
My shoes were full of holes

I used to walk four miles to school every day
Through the rain, the sleet and the cold
I've seen the nights when my daddy would cry
For the things that his family would need

But all he ever got was a badland farm
And seven hungry mouths to feed
And yet and yet our home fire never flickered once
'Cause when all these things went wrong

Mama took the hymn book down
And Mama sang a song
(What a friend we have in Jesus)

I've been rocked to sleep many a night
To the tune of, 'What a friend'
And come morning 'Rock of ages'
Would wake me gently once again

And when Daddy would reach up
And he'd take the Bible down
And he'd read it, read it loud and long
And I always felt that maybe our house was blessed
When Daddy would say Mama sing a song

Sister left home first, I guess and then Bob
And then Tommy and then Dan
By then Dad's hair was turning white
And I had to be Mama's little man

But it seemed that as Daddy's back grew weak
My mother's faith just grew strong
And those were the greatest days
Of all when Mama sang a song
(Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself in Thee)

I guess the house is still standing
I don't get to go back much anymore
No voice is left to fill those halls
And no steps to grace the floor

For you see my mother sings in Heaven
Now around God's golden throne
But I'll always believe
That this world is a better place

Because one time my mama sang a song
(Precious memories flood my soul)